In a Big Ten showdown on Tuesday, Jan. 23, the Ohio State Buckeyes (13-6, 3-5 Big Ten) faced a tough defeat against the Nebraska Cornhuskers (15-5, 5-4 Big Ten), losing 83-69 in Lincoln. The Buckeyes, currently struggling on the road, were unable to secure a victory in this matchup. Despite a promising start with an early 22-13 lead, sophomore Bruce Thornton leading in scoring with 16 points and contributions from graduate player Jamison Battle and sophomore Bowen Hardman, the game took a turn.
Photo Cred: Buckeyes Wire
A pivotal moment came with an Ohio State forward Zed Key foul at the 10:54 mark in the first half, sparking an 18-8 run by the Cornhuskers. This run allowed Nebraska to regain the lead by the end of the first half, establishing a 43-35 advantage. The second half mirrored the first, with the Cornhuskers maintaining control and preventing the Buckeyes from reclaiming the lead. Despite efforts by Ohio State, the closest they came was at the 17:25 mark when Zed Key’s layup narrowed the gap to 56-53 Cornhuskers.
However, Nebraska continued to extend their lead, ultimately securing the win with a 16-point differential and a final score of 83-69. Leading the scoring for the Cornhuskers were forward Rienk Mast with an impressive 34 points and guard Brice Williams contributing 14. Statistically, Nebraska dominated across various categories, outperforming Ohio State in rebounds (35-28), assists (19-17), and three-point shooting (51.9% to 34.8%). Turnovers also favored the Cornhuskers, with Ohio State committing 9 compared to Nebraska’s 6.
Photo Cred: The Daily Nebraskan
The Buckeyes now hold a 1-4 record in their last five games, while the Cornhuskers maintain a 3-2 record in the same span. Looking ahead, the Nebraska Cornhuskers are set to face the Maryland Terrapins at the Xfinity Center in College Park, MD on Sat, Jan. 27, at noon. Meanwhile, the Ohio State Buckeyes will travel to Evanston, Ill., to take on the Northwestern Wildcats at 8:30 p.m. on the same day.
