Ohio State Snaps Five-Game Losing Streak in Double Overtime Against Maryland, 79-75

Ohio State battled from behind for much of the second half in its contest with Maryland on Saturday, but with enough fight, it managed to reach overtime. That overtime still wasn't enough to decide the game as the Terrapins and Buckeyes tangoed into another extra period.

Finally, with Gayle's slam giving Ohio State (14-10, 4-9 Big Ten) a two-score lead over the Terrapins (13-11, 5-8) with two seconds to play, the Buckeyes sealed up a 79-75 double-overtime win.

The victory snapped a five-game losing streak for Ohio State, who had lost eight of its past nine games entering Saturday.

Bruce Thornton starred for Ohio State, racking up 24 points. Gayle followed with 17 despite a 4-of-12 day from the field.

Guard Jahmir Young shouldered the largest load for Maryland's offense, scoring 26 points in a losing effort. Forward Donta Scott added 19 points while forward Julian Reese grabbed 13 points and 13 rebounds.

First half

It took Ohio State 4:15 to make a field goal against Maryland.

The Terrapins used that early drought to jump out to an 8-2 lead on the back of a 6-0 run, an edge they expanded to 13-4 after a triple from Young.

A 7-0 Buckeye run catalyzed by a contested mid-range jumper from Dale Bonner cut the deficit back to 15-14, but Scott collected eight points in a row for Maryland shortly thereafter and pushed its lead out to 26-18. A putback layup from Mady Traore made it a double-digit advantage at 28-18.

Then Ohio State started chipping away. Trailing 30-20, Devin Royal and Evan Mahaffey teamed up to grab the Buckeyes four quick points.

Traore responded with a dunk with 5:36 to play in the half, but those would be the last points Maryland scored in the opening period. Ohio State closed the half on a 9-0 run featuring six points from Thornton, taking a 33-32 lead into halftime.

Second half

Maryland took the lead back on its first second-half possession, then expanded it to two scores on an alley-oop to Traore. Ohio State answered with a mid-range Thornton jumper and a scoop reverse layup in transition from Bonner to knot the contest at 37-all.

Several lead changes followed over the next several minutes, but then Mayland launched a 10-3 extended run – the last five points of which were scored by Scott – to go ahead 51-45 with 8:55 remaining.

A fourth foul issued to center Felix Okpara in the sequence worsened things for the Buckeyes.

Trailing 55-49, Ohio State's defense served to help keep it afloat. Gayle hit a layup and Thornton drew a charge on the ensuing possession.

Maryland went 2:48 without scoring and Thornton cut the deficit to 55-53, but Young was left wide open for a triple and knocked it down to make the score 58-53 Maryland with 4:43 to play.

An alley-oop from Thornton to Okpara cut the deficit to 60-58. Thornton tied it at 61 on a three with 54 seconds remaining. Evan Mahaffey fouled out and sent Scott to the line on the following Maryland possession. He missed both free throws.

Thornton had a look to take the lead on Ohio State's next possession but missed. Young followed suit by missing a potential buzzer-beater and the contest went to overtime.

First Overtime

A gorgeous reverse layup from Gayle gave Ohio State a 65-63 lead with less than four minutes remaining, but another open Maryland three quickly put the Terrapins ahead 66-65.

Jamison Battle gave Ohio State the lead back on a layup but fouled Young while defending the top of the key to make it 68-67 Maryland after his free throws.

Two more Terrapin makes from the charity stripe set the stage for a Thornton floater, putting the score at 70-69 with 1:32 to play.

Thornton tied the game again at 71 but Okpara fouled out and sent Reese to the line with 38 seconds remaining. He missed both free throws.

Battle missed a triple and Young couldn't finish a well-contested layup, sending the game to a second overtime.

Second overtime

Reese and Battle exchanged buckets to tie the contest at 73.

Young got to the rack a few possessions later and gave Maryland a 75-73 lead. A putback from Zed Key squared things at 75 with under two minutes left.

Then Thornton had one of his craftiest plays of the game to get the Buckeyes a lead, knifing through a web of Maryland defenders to flip a contested layup.

Maryland came up empty on its final two possessions. A monumental Key block led to Gayle's runaway game-sealing dunk.

Blocked! Dunked! @OhioStateHoops gets the win in double OT! pic.twitter.com/Gxns8BhTwS

— FOX College Hoops (@CBBonFOX) February 10, 2024

What's next

Ohio State travels to Madison to take on No. 11 Wisconsin on Tuesday. The Badgers beat the Buckeyes 71-60 in Value City Arena earlier this season.

A loss would push the Buckeyes' road losing streak to 16 games, tying a school record set in 1998. Tipoff is at 9 p.m. with Peacock set to stream the contest.

Game notes

• Key was questionable due to illness entering Saturday's contest and did not play in the first half but entered with 14:23 remaining in the game.
• Battle, Ohio State's top three-point shooter, didn't attempt a triple until 3:10 to play. He finished with eight points and missed an ambitious dunk attempt from outside the paint.
• Saturday was the first time in the all-time series between Ohio State and Maryland that a game has gone to overtime. It was the Buckeyes' second overtime game of the season following a 78-75 overtime win over West Virginia on Dec. 30.
• Ohio State had lost eight of its last nine games entering Saturday’s win.