Ohio State ran out of gas with eight minutes still on the clock in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
The No. 3 Wolverines (18-1, 8-1 Big Ten) led the Buckeyes (13-6, 5-4) just 52-51 at that point of the game, but quickly launched a 21-6 run to generate the separation many expected when Ohio State entered the hostile confines of the Crisler Center on Friday. Michigan ultimately knocked off the Scarlet and Gray, 74-62.
| TEAM | 1 | 2 | FINAL |
|---|---|---|---|
| OHIO STATE | 30 | 32 | 62 |
| #3 MICHIGAN | 33 | 41 | 74 |
Star forward Yaxel Lendeborg led the way for Michigan, scoring 18 points and grabbing nine rebounds. Center Aday Mara was a force, with 11 points, six rebounds and four blocked shots. Morez Johnson Jr. and Trey McKenney each added 12 points.
Guard John Mobley Jr. was easily Ohio State's best player on Friday, picking up 22 points. Center Christoph Tilly followed with 17 while star guard Bruce Thornton struggled, finishing with 10 points on just 3-of-11 shooting.
First Half
Michigan guard Elliot Cadeau found center Aday Mara on an alley-oop off the opening tip, and the contest was off and running.
Ohio State hung in early despite the best efforts of Lendeborg, who scored six points in the first six minutes. But Mobley, Thornton and Tilly each found looks off strong drives into the paint. The contest already featured five lead changes before the first half's second media timeout.
Mobley hit a disgusting pump fake and drilled a 3-pointer to put Ohio State up 17-14, then buried another triple that looked more like a floater as the shot clock expired to make the scoreline 20-14.
John Mobley Jr. knocks down the three for @OhioStateHoops
— Big Ten Men's Basketball (@B1GMBBall) January 24, 2026
: FOX pic.twitter.com/MfMNcTe9uD
Michigan sliced the lead down to two twice on a three-ball by Lendeborg and an alley-oop flush by former Buckeye Roddy Gayle Jr. Mobley had the answer with a pair of floaters. Then the Wolverines launched a 6-0 run thanks to a pair of fast-break buckets off Ohio State turnovers and went back ahead 28-26. Thornton stopped the bleeding and tied the ballgame at 28 with a floater. Michigan pulled ahead 33-30 entering the locker room off an offensive rebound and stick back of a free throw.
Overall, it was a sloppy grind of an opening 20 minutes. Ohio State and Michigan combined for 15 turnovers and shot 4-of-24 (16.7%) from 3-point range.
Second Half
Ohio State brought a stronger burst of energy out of the locker room than Michigan, and it paid dividends.
Mobley hit a toe-on-the-line 2 and a step-back 3-pointer, then Tilly sank a rare triple and suddenly an 8-0 Buckeyes run had them up 40-34 in the second half against their rival and the No. 3 team in the land. Michigan coach Dusty May called a quick timeout to try to quell the momentum.
It worked. An 11-0 run was the Wolverines' answer, aided by a couple of bad Ohio State turnovers. Amare Bynum splashed a 3-pointer from way downtown to bring the deficit back to 45-43 for Ohio State, then Tilly banked a triple home to take a 46-45 lead.
Just as in the middle portions of the first half, the teams exchanged blows back and forth for a while. Thornton tied the game at 50 with two free throws, but then, up 52-51, Michigan pulled ahead with an 8-0 run to make it a 60-51 lead. It was the Wolverines' largest yet, and one they never relinquished. Cadeau hit two triples for the exclamation points of the run.
That built into an extended 21-6 run that effectively iced the Buckeyes out of the Crisler Center. Michigan led 71-56 with 3:17 to play. Thornton hit a 3-pointer to cut the deficit to 10 with 1:50 left, but it was much too little, much too late.
What's Next?
Ohio State returns home to face Penn State, which is currently winless in Big Ten play, on Monday. Tipoff is at 7 p.m. on FS1.
Game Notes
- Despite his overall rough night, Bruce Thornton claimed an outright lead over Curtis Wilson for fifth place on Ohio State's all-time assists leaderboard, now up to 477 in his career.
- Thornton rolled his ankle with 54 seconds remaining and did not return to the game, though he walked off under his own power.
- Ohio State drops to 102-84 all-time against Michigan.
- Puff Johnson made his first appearance for the Buckeyes since being granted the temporary restraining order that allowed him to play this season. He had no points in five minutes.
