Abdelrahman
In his inaugural season, Jake Diebler and the Ohio State Buckeyes came tantalizingly close to securing a memorable victory over their fierce rivals, but ultimately fell short.
Ranked No. 20, the Michigan Wolverines (20-5, 12-2 in Big Ten) narrowly triumphed at Value City Arena, clinching an 86-83 win against Ohio State (15-11, 7-8).
| TEAM | 1 | 2 | FINAL |
|---|---|---|---|
| #20 MICHIGAN | 44 | 42 | 86 |
| OHIO STATE | 39 | 44 | 83 |
Michigan’s center Vladislav Goldin made a significant impact with 20 points and 10 rebounds, while the towering Danny Wolf contributed with 17 points and 11 rebounds. The Wolverines dominated the boards, out-rebounding the Buckeyes 46-31.
Ohio State’s Devin Royal was the standout performer, scoring 26 points. Bruce Thornton and John Mobley Jr. added 17 and 16 points respectively, though Thornton missed a potential game-tying shot in the closing seconds of regulation.
First Half
| MICHIGAN | STAT | OHIO STATE |
|---|---|---|
| 86 | POINTS | 83 |
| 33-68 (48.5%) | FGM-FGA (PCT.) | 28-61 (45.9%) |
| 7-21 (33.3%) | 3PM-3PA (PCT.) | 9-25 (36%) |
| 13-17 (76.5%) | FTM-FTA (PCT.) | 18-27 (66.7%) |
| 12 | TURNOVERS | 9 |
| 46 | TOTAL REBOUNDS | 31 |
| 19 | OFFENSIVE REBOUNDS | 12 |
| 27 | DEFENSIVE REBOUNDS | 19 |
| 22 | BENCH POINTS | 9 |
| 1 | BLOCKS | 5 |
| 5 | STEALS | 6 |
| 13 | ASSISTS | 13 |
Despite a couple of turnovers by Ohio State, both teams displayed extraordinary offensive efficiency, characteristic of this intense rivalry.
A flurry of 22 points erupted before the first media timeout, with Thornton and Mobley hitting three-pointers for the Buckeyes while Burnett responded with a pair from long range for the Wolverines. Ohio State maintained its momentum temporarily, taking the lead at 21-16 after Royal made three baskets in quick succession, including a wing three-pointer and another from the top of the arc.
The atmosphere at the Schottenstein Center was electric, as Roddy Gayle Jr., a transfer from Ohio State to Michigan, was met with a chorus of boos each time he touched the ball. The intensity intensified when Michigan mounted an 8-0 run to regain the lead, only for Thornton to respond with a tough baseline jumper that got the crowd roaring.
Then, both teams suddenly cooled. Ohio State went through a stretch of missing nine consecutive shots, but Michigan faltered too, allowing Micah Parrish’s breakaway dunk to keep the score at 35-33. While the Wolverines created some breathing room with a three-pointer from L.J. Cason, Mobley’s floater and a circus layup from Glover helped narrow the score to 42-39.
OH MY QUES GLOVER @OhioStateHoops pic.twitter.com/YP0Du3BX4j
— CBS Sports College Basketball (@CBSSportsCBB) February 16, 2025
In the dying seconds of the first half, Goldin converted a tip-in to give Michigan a 44-39 advantage at the break.
Second Half
As the second half began, Michigan attempted to extend their lead multiple times, but Ohio State had answers at every turn.
Wolf’s layup through a foul extended Michigan’s lead to seven, but Royal quickly responded for the Buckeyes with his third consecutive three-pointer. Although Tre Donaldson scrambled for three challenging layups, Ohio State knotted the game at 61 thanks to two three-pointers from Mobley along with timely baskets from Royal and Sean Stewart.
Thornton managed to convert a layup through contact, briefly giving Ohio State the advantage, followed by a high-five celebration with a fan in the stands. But familiar shooting struggles struck again; Ohio State endured a tumultuous 1-for-8 shooting slump as Michigan climbed back ahead 71-68. Bradshaw fouled out after only a few minutes of play, further complicating Ohio State’s efforts.
Wolf continued his strong performance, hitting numerous turnaround jumpers and acrobatic layups. Nevertheless, Ohio State remained resilient, with Royal completing an impressive alley-oop through a foul, bringing them within two points at 78-76 with less than four minutes remaining.
Not long after, Thornton tied the game with a crafty floater, prompting Michigan’s coach Dusty May to call a timeout to regroup his team amid the excited roars of the Valued City Arena.
The timeout re-energized the Wolverines. Gayle and Goldin combined efforts to push Michigan ahead to an 84-80 margin. Parrish countered with a three-pointer, just his second of the game, but Wolf’s missed free throw left Michigan with a slender two-point advantage. In the game’s final moments, a missed mid-range attempt from Thornton opened the door for Michigan to secure the rebound and the win.
What’s Next
Ohio State will conclude its three-game homestand on Thursday against Northwestern, who is currently tied for 16th in the Big Ten. The game is set to tip off at 6:30 p.m. on FS1.
Game Notes
- With this defeat, Ohio State’s historical record against Michigan stands at 102-83.
- Following fan reactions to the Buckeyes narrowly missing free Chick-fil-A promotions in their last two home games, the assists threshold was adjusted from 16 to 12.
- At halftime, former Buckeye captains were honored, including Scoonie Penn, JJ Sullinger, Terence Dials, and Aaron Craft, who were all present to celebrate the occasion.
