Ohio State Buckeyes Snap Skid, Defeat Maryland Terrapins in Double Overtime

The Ohio State Buckeyes picked up a big conference win Saturday.

The Ohio State Buckeyes are finally back in the win column. 

Ohio State bounced back after a five-game losing streak to beat Maryland 79-75 in double overtime thanks to a huge second half from sophomore guard Bruce Thornton.

This was a game of streakiness. Ohio State, like usual, stayed close the entire game before dropping it down the stretch, but both teams went on multiple streaks in the first.

The Terrapins started out the game 14-3 before the Buckeyes marched back on a 10-2 run behind some outstanding team defense and rebounding from freshman forward Devin Royal and senior guard Dale Bonner. They were moving the ball around well and got things going on the offensive end well.

However, this run was short-lived. Terrapin junior forward Julian Reese dominated the offensive glass and protected the rim very efficiently, coming up with two offensive rebounds and a block but having a positive effect on every shot. The Terps had five offensive rebounds and finished the first a perfect 5-5 on those second-chance points.

Terp senior forward Donta Scott started off a perfect 4-4 for 12 points before going cold toward the end of the first.

The Buckeyes had fairly even scoring all around but sophomore guard Bruce Thornton carried the load with 11 points in the first, including a layup at the end of the half to give the Buckeyes their first lead of the game. They ended the half on a 7-0 run.

Royal and senior center Zed Key provided a much-needed boost on the glass for the Buckeyes. Although Royal went to the bench early in the second with four fouls, he and Key — who played his first minutes with just under 15 minutes remaining — effectively contested almost every shot in the paint.

However, Reese proved to be too much for the paint-protecting trio of sophomore center Felix Okpara, Key and Royal — the Terp big man recorded his 12th double-double of the season behind 13 points and 13 rebounds, including four on the offensive glass.

The trio could not stay disciplined Saturday, as each picked up bad fouls at crucial points — Okpara and sophomore forward Evan Mahaffey both fouled out.

The usual go-to instant offense for the Buckeyes, senior forward Jamison Battle was nowhere to be found in the first half and didn't score his first points until 8:19 remaining in the second half.

Every time it seemed Ohio State was creeping back into the game, Maryland would silence the already-light crowd even further with an aggressive take or a 3-pointer. The leading scorer for the Terps didn’t take off until the second half, however, as he recorded 18 of his 26 total in the second half and overtime periods.

Just as it seemed the Buckeyes were done, Thornton hit a game-tying 3 with just over a minute left to rile up the crowd.

Maryland held the ball for the last shot of regulation but Young didn’t get a good look and instead jacked up a prayer step-back jumper as the teams headed to overtime tied at 61.

Overtime was a top conference guard battle — Young vs. Thornton. Both stayed attacking, although all five of Young’s points came from free throws from fouls on the way up. The Terps went 5-8 from the stripe in the first overtime.

And then there were two — the Buckeyes and Terps went into double overtime tied at 71. Once again, Ohio State could not stay disciplined, picking up five fouls in both overtimes, allowing for 10 total free throws in those 10 minutes.

Thornton played like he was the guy — the young guard took it to the rack virtually every time he had the ball in his hands, finishing with six combined in both overtimes.

Thornton and sophomore guard Roddy Gayle Jr. combined for 41, perhaps giving the Buckeyes a much-needed boost to confidence in the backcourt.

Ohio State returns to action Tuesday in Madison against No. 11 Wisconsin at 9 p.m., streaming on Peacock.