There's no quit in Ohio State's 2025-26 basketball team, but that fact wasn't enough to overcome a few poor shooting stretches against No. 10 Nebraska on Monday night.
The Buckeyes (10-4, 2-2 Big Ten) fell to the undefeated Huskers (15-0, 4-0) 72-69 after a last-second 3-point attempt from center Christoph Tilly sailed wide of the rim.
| TEAM | 1 | 2 | FINAL |
|---|---|---|---|
| #10 NEBRASKA | 41 | 31 | 72 |
| OHIO STATE | 34 | 35 | 69 |
Four different Nebraska players finished in double-figures as the Huskers held a 38-29 advantage on the offensive glass. John Mobley Jr., Bruce Thornton and Devin Royal expectedly led the way in defeat for Ohio State, scoring 22, 16 and 14 points, respectively.
Forward Brandon Noel sustained a foot injury, was put in a walking boot and did not return to the game.
First Half
Nebraska came out firing with a 10-1 run in less than two minutes to start the contest. It was part of a larger 3-of-3 start from 3-point range for the Huskers, but Ohio State has played with deficits much of this season and shown it can answer.
Mobley collected six quick points on a 3-point shot and a 3-point play, then Amare Bynum made a cut, caught a pass and threw down a two-handed slam that left the basket shaking for a solid 30 seconds afterward. That cut the lead to 15-13, but Nebraska launched another lightning-fast run.
Husker freshman guard Braden Frager knifed through the defense twice for a pair of layups, and Nebraska capped a stretch of just 3:10 with a 3-point basket and a 3-point play for a 12-0 run that pushed its lead out to 14, 27-13. Ohio State got to work chipping away again.
Thornton and Tilly each cashed in a layup, Mast answered with a jumper, but Mobley and Tilly, in a rare occurrence for the latter, each hit 3-pointers to make it a 29-23 ballgame. A quick four Nebraska points made it a double-digit deficit again, but a two-handed Royal dunk and Bynum triple cut it to 33-28.
Nebraska ultimately carried a seven-point lead into intermission. It could have been slimmer if the Buckeyes made more than two of their eight layup attempts, but they remained within striking distance.
Second Half
| NEBRASKA | STAT | OHIO STATE |
|---|---|---|
| 72 | POINTS | 69 |
| 25-57 (43.9%) | FGM-FGA (PCT.) | 26-57 (45.6%) |
| 8-29 (27.6%) | 3PM-3PA (PCT.) | 9-26 (34.6%) |
| 14-17 (82.4%) | FTM-FTA (PCT.) | 8-13 (61.5%) |
| 12 | TURNOVERS | 8 |
| 38 | TOTAL REBOUNDS | 29 |
| 8 | OFFENSIVE REBOUNDS | 4 |
| 30 | DEFENSIVE REBOUNDS | 25 |
| 22 | BENCH POINTS | 0 |
| 1 | BLOCKS | 2 |
| 5 | STEALS | 4 |
| 12 | ASSISTS | 13 |
A 3-pointer to give the Huskers another double-digit lead did not deter Ohio State.
Thornton canned his own triple, then after a make from forward Berke Buyuktuncel, Nebraska's offense dried up as the Buckeyes' defense tightened, going 3:07 without any points. That left room for a 6-0 Ohio State run, four of those points coming off a pair of smooth midrange makes by Mobley.
The Nebraska lead grew back to six, Thornton and Bynum cut it right back to two. Mast nailed a jumper, but a gorgeous Royal layup and two Thornton free throws gave Ohio State its first lead of the basketball game, 49-48, with 10:24 to play.
Back and forth, the two sides battled for a while, Mast regaining the lead for the Huskers before Thornton hit a triple to give the Buckeyes their largest lead of the ballgame at 53-50. Mast hit a 3, Mobley answered with a deep 3.
Thornton pulled Ohio State ahead once more with a jumper, but then Nebraska started a 9-0 run that felt game-sealing. With 2:18 to play, the Huskers led 66-58.
And one last time, the Buckeyes made a run to get back in the game. Mobley touched every part of the rim on a 3-pointer that finally fell, Royal found room for a floater and Tilly stole a pass and ran coast-to-coast for a layup. All that action made it a 67-65 game.
Frager converted a 3-point play on the other end. Thornton and Royal strung shots together to make it 70-69 with 14 seconds to play, but two Jamarques Lawrence free throws and an airballed 3 by Tilly with three seconds remaining sealed a 72-69 loss for Ohio State.
What's Next?
Ohio State begins its two-game West Coast trip to play Oregon and Washington, beginning with the Ducks on Thursday. Tipoff for that game is at 10:30 p.m. on the Big Ten Network.
Game Notes
- Tilly's 3-point basket was his first make from behind the arc since Nov. 25.
- Ohio State's all-time record still stands at 22-9 vs. Nebraska.
- With seven assists against the Huskers, Thornton climbed within nine dimes of passing Curtis Wilson for fifth all-time in Ohio State history.
