NASHVILLE, Tenn. – A late offensive drought proved fatal for Ohio State as the Buckeyes fell to No. 15 Virginia, 70-66, on Saturday at Bridgestone Arena. Despite a dominant 28-point performance from guard Bruce Thornton, Ohio State (16-9) struggled to close out the game, scoring just seven points in the final 10 minutes against a determined Cavalier defense.
Virginia (22-3) utilized a balanced attack, with seven players contributing at least five points. Guard Malik Thomas led the Cavaliers with 13 points, while Sam Lewis and Chance Mallory each added 12. Ugonna Onyenso anchored the Virginia defense, recording 10 rebounds and four blocked shots in addition to his eight points.
Ohio State started strong, building an early 12-4 lead. Thornton’s early scoring, including an and-one play, fueled a 9-0 run that gave the Buckeyes control. However, Virginia quickly responded with a run of their own, narrowing the gap and initiating a back-and-forth first half that ended in a 37-37 tie.
The Buckeyes regained the lead in the second half, extending their advantage to 57-51 with 10 minutes remaining. But Virginia systematically chipped away at the lead, tying the game at 59-59 before ultimately taking a 63-61 lead with just over four minutes to play. A critical scoring lull for Ohio State followed, lasting more than three and a half minutes.
Freshman Amare Bynum, filling in for the injured John Mobley Jr., provided a spark off the bench, finishing with 15 points and a team-high six rebounds. Bynum connected on 3-of-4 three-point attempts. Christoph Tilly added 11 points for the Buckeyes. Taison Chatman made his first collegiate start in place of Mobley, playing a career-high 30 minutes and contributing four points.
The free-throw line proved to be a significant disparity in the contest. Virginia converted 22 of 32 free-throw attempts, while Ohio State was limited to just nine free-throw opportunities, making six. This difference in opportunities contributed significantly to the Cavaliers’ victory.
Ohio State will return home to face Wisconsin on Tuesday at 8:30 p.m. The Badgers are coming off consecutive victories over Top 10 opponents, presenting a significant challenge for the Buckeyes. The game will be televised on FS1.
