The Ohio State Buckeyes, struggling to maintain momentum in the Big Ten conference, squandered an 18-point lead to the Indiana Hoosiers, losing 76-73 on Sunday night at Value City Arena. Ohio State (13-9, 3-8 Big Ten) entered the game on a four-game losing streak, desperately needing a win to stay competitive in the conference. However, despite a strong start, they couldn’t hold off a determined Indiana squad.
Photo Cred: Indy Star
“I just don’t think we were physical enough,” Ohio State Head Coach Chris Holtmann lamented. “We were not as aggressive as we needed to be.”
The Buckeyes’ starting lineup, featuring sophomore guards Roddy Gayle Jr., Bruce Thornton, and Evan Mahaffey, alongside sophomore center Felix Okpara and fifth-year forward Jamison Battle, seemed poised for victory early on. They built a ten-point lead midway through the first half, capitalizing on turnovers and maintaining a shooting percentage above 50%. But Indiana (13-9, 5-6 Big Ten) fought back, led by point guard Xavier Johnson and shooting guard Trey Galloway. They cut into Ohio State’s lead, matching them point for point in the second half. Despite the Buckeyes’ early dominance, Indiana’s resilience paid off as they chipped away at the deficit.
“We kind of let them back into the game,” acknowledged Roddy Gayle Jr. “I think you just have to stay with it.”
Indiana finally took the lead in the second half, buoyed by strong performances from Malik Reneau and Trey Galloway, who both surpassed 20 points. Ohio State’s offense faltered in the latter part of the game, shooting only 28.6% from the field in the second half. A late surge from Ohio State, including crucial free throws from Jamison Battle, briefly regained the lead, but a clutch three-pointer from Indiana’s Anthony Leal sealed the victory for the Hoosiers.
Photo Cred: Indy Star
“We came out with a lot of aggression in the first half, but just couldn’t carry it through for the second,” Gayle Jr. conceded.
This loss marks the second time this season that Ohio State has squandered an 18-point lead. It highlights their struggles to maintain consistency throughout the game. With postseason aspirations on the line, the Buckeyes face an uphill battle to regain momentum in the competitive Big Ten conference.
