Gritty but Gassed: Ohio State Battles Without Mobley & Royal, Drops Tight One to Michigan State Despite Thornton’s 32

Desperation is a stinky cologne, but the Buckeyes are desperate for wins following the loss to Michigan State. Ohio State relied on every ounce of manpower against #15 Michigan State. They have been down a starter in John Mobley Jr for weeks, but without Devin Royal, the game felt like a prayer. Amare Bynum was listed as questionable. Thankfully, for the Buckeyes, Bynum was able to go today. Puff Johnson got the start with Royal on the bench.

Bruce Thornton needed to be superhuman. He started the game establishing his presence on the court with point after point. Whether it was driving floaters or commanding a double team, then dishing to a wide open teammates, Thornton delivered. Thornton worked his magic on defense, drawing a charge. He followed it up by immediately getting the ball to the hoop for two. Ten minutes into the first half, the Buckeyes took their first lead, 10-9. With a free throw, Thornton became second on the all-time leading score with 2012 points, passing Herb Williams.

Bruce Thornton (2,012) has passed Herb Willams for second all-time in total points in Buckeyes history

— Cody Croy | Buckeye Backers (@BoominBuckeyes) February 22, 2026

The Buckeyes were playing inspired basketball without two of their best players in Mobley and Royal. The effort was evident, boxing out on rebounds and plays like Tilly’s steal under the basket following a Buckeye missed shot. True grit was squarely in the Buckeyes’ favor, but the Spartan skill was keeping Michigan State in the game, particularly three-point shooting after back to back three remained close, 20-17. Ohio State’s tenacity continued to be the difference in this first half.

Bruce Thornton was looking like Jeremiah Smith on the basketball court. Even when triple-teamed, he was dominant. Thornton led all Buckeyes in the half with 16 points, and the team surprisingly led Michigan State in points in the paint. Ohio State led at halftime, 26-23. The question was, can they keep this intensity for the full game?

Second Half

Thornton came out after the break right where he left off. He forced a missed shot from Michigan State’s Jeremy Fears Jr. and went down, hitting a jumper. The Achilles Heel for the Buckeyes was free throws. Early in the second half, the Buckeyes were one for six from the stripe. Collin White, who was zero for two from the strip, followed up Tilly’s two missed free throws with his first three of the season.

Michigan State slowly and methodically built back a lead. Sparty went on an 11- 2 run, leading 36-33. Bruce Thornton did not disappear, knocking down a long three as the shot clock expired and tying up the game at 38. Chatman gave the Buckeyes the lead again from the arc, 41-40. The Buckeyes needed more than Thornton to take down Sparty, and with the next possession, Christoph Tilly’s turn-around jumper, 43-40, the Buckeyes were giving Thornton some much-needed support. With 10:40 remaining, Michigan State knocked down its own Bucket from behind the arc to tie it up at 43.

Michigan State went on a 6-0 run for the Spartans to claim the lead, 49-45, with 7:48 remaining. This is the pivotal point in the game, where this season’s Buckeyes have lost several big games (mainly vs ranked teams). Self-destructing and running on fumes, Ohio State had not scored in nearly two and a half minutes; it was the do-or-die moment. Another ranked win was in sight for Coach Diebler’s Buckeyes. A pair of made foul shots broke the Ohio State’s scoring drought, but offensive rebounds began to pile up with the Spartans leading in the category 34-22. Being down 57-51, the diameter of the rim became much smaller for Ohio State. Sparty’s momentum was audible in the Breslin Center.

Ohio State remained pesky, down 63-53 and going on a 7-0 run, losing the gap 63-60 with 14.3 seconds on the clock. It was too little too late. Sparty closed out the game with fouls shots, winning 66-60.

Stats

Normally shootingy 78% from the charity stripe, the Buckeye could have used their league-leading free throw percentage. They shot 58.8% this afternoon. Thornton went off with 32 points and moved up to second on the Ohio State all-time leading scorers list. The Buckeyes were dominated on the boards, out-rebounded by the Spartans 43-26. The Buckeye led the Spartans with 34 to 26 points in the paint.

Final Thoughts

The Buckeyes 17-10 (9-7) came out in this game with all gas and no brakes. As the game wore on, the Buckeyes, being outmanned and outgunned, ran out of gas. Hopes of making the final field for March Madness are fading. As I see it, the Buckeyes will have to get healthy and win out, starting at Iowa on the Big Ten Network, Wednesday, 2/25/26 at 9PM.