Buckeyes Edge Out Spartans in a Nail-Biter at Breslin Center
The Ohio State Buckeyes emerged victorious against the Michigan State Spartans with a hard-fought 60-57 victory. The Buckeyes, who had no rank going into the game, improved their record while handing the unranked Spartans another setback. The game was a showcase of defensive tenacity and offensive execution as both teams battled through two halves of intense basketball.
The Buckeyes set the tone early on, ending the first half with 22 points to their name but trailing behind the Spartans' 32. However, it was in the second half that Ohio State truly shone, adding an impressive 38 points to seal their win. Their overall field goal percentage stood at 38 percent from an attempt of 58 shots. From beyond the arc, they struggled slightly with an 18 percent success rate on three-point attempts but made up for it with a solid free throw performance, sinking shots at a rate of 72 percent.
Defensively, Ohio State was formidable; they amassed five blocks and seven steals over the course of play. Their rebounding effort was particularly noteworthy as they outrebounded Michigan State by securing 39 rebounds to their opponent's 33. Of these rebounds for Ohio State, eleven were offensive grabs contributing significantly to second-chance opportunities which resulted in fourteen additional points.
On offense, points in paint were crucial for Ohio State as they tallied up thirty-four from close-range efforts. The team also capitalized on turnovers by scoring twelve points off Michigan State's mistakes while committing fewer turnovers themselves with just nine compared to Michigan's ten.
Despite being outpaced in fast break points where Michigan led with twenty-two against Ohio's eight and having fewer assists than Michigan’s nine assists total – eight for OSU – it was ultimately Ohio’s consistent pressure and ability to convert when it mattered most that carried them through.
Looking ahead after this gripping encounter at Jack Breslin Students Events Center before nearly fifteen thousand fans is another challenge awaiting the Buckeyes back home at Value City Arena in Columbus where they will face off against Nebraska Cornhuskers on February twenty-ninth at five-thirty PM Eastern Time. Fans eager to catch this next installment can tune into Fox Sports one for live coverage as Ohio looks forward to continuing its winning ways on its own court.