On Wednesday, Ohio State faced a crucial challenge in the NCAA Tournament. Sadly, their hopes took a hit in a tough 74-57 loss to Iowa. With this defeat, the Buckeyes (17-11, 9-8 Big Ten) missed a key opportunity for a much-needed Quad 1 win. On the other hand, Iowa improved to 20-8 (10-7 Big Ten).
The game turned on Ohio State’s struggle to defend against Iowa’s Bennett Stirtz and Alvaro Fulgeiras, who scored 22 and 20 points, respectively. Ohio State, meanwhile, was limited to just 41.9% shooting, putting star guard Bruce Thornton at a mere ten points.
John Mobley Jr. and Devin Royal tried to rally their team with 15 and 16 points, but it wasn’t enough to turn the tide. This marked the first time this season the Buckeyes lost back-to-back games, following their defeat to No. 15 Michigan State.
The game began with Ohio State looking strong. Mobley hit two impressive three-pointers early on, helping the Buckeyes jump out to a 14-2 lead. But things quickly turned around. Iowa executed a relentless 21-1 run, capitalizing on Ohio State’s turnovers and poor shot choices. Stirtz was pivotal during this stretch, sinking crucial three-pointers that shifted momentum away from the Buckeyes.
As the first half wound down, Ohio State found themselves trailing 37-23, showing just 31.8% shooting. Thornton was particularly stifled, failing to score any points as Iowa’s defense kept up the pressure.
The second half continued to be challenging for Ohio State. Iowa extended their lead to 51-32 early on, diminishing any hope the Buckeyes had for a comeback. With eight minutes remaining, Iowa pushed their lead to over 20 points, thanks to a run led by Fulgeiras.
Next up, Ohio State will return home to face the formidable No. 8 Purdue on Sunday. This will be their final opportunity for a strong case in the NCAA Tournament, aside from a potential run in the Big Ten Tournament.
Here are some quick facts about the game:
- Thornton has now scored 2,047 points in his career, just 50 points shy of becoming Ohio State’s all-time leading scorer.
- Ohio State now has an 81-85 all-time record against Iowa.
- The Buckeyes played without starting center Christoph Tilly due to injury. Both Royal and Mobley were questionable but still started.
As the NCAA Tournament approaches, experts suggest that Ohio State must focus on tightening their defense and improving shot selection. Recent trends show that teams making a late push typically focus on both areas. Fans are hopeful that if they can pull together in their next game, the Buckeyes can turn things around in time for the tournament.
