Washington Beats Ohio State 81-74 as Bruce Thornton’s 28 Points Are Not Enough
Washington beat Ohio State in men’s college basketball 81-74 despite 28 points from star Ohio State Guard Bruce Thornton. The game took place in Washington, as Ohio State could not sweep its West Coast trip.
Ohio State was outclassed in this game by a pair of Washington Huskies. Forward Hannes Steinbach and Guard Zoom Diallo scored 21 and 20 points, respectively. Do you think Ohio State will finish in the top half of the Big Ten?
Washington Beats Ohio State 81-74 Summary
Washington defeated Ohio State in men’s basketball 81-74 at home. This was the result of some big efforts. Not only did Steinbach and Diallo have more than 20 points. Center Franck Kepnang also proved effective in this game, finishing with 11 points and 7 rebounds.
It seemed like Washington got every rebound in this game, especially in the second half, when they went on a 14-0 run. That said, Ohio State out-rebounded Washington 39-29 in this loss.
Washington and Ohio State Scoring Summary
In the first half, Ohio State freshman Amare Bynum had 20 points and scored 7 quick points to take Ohio State from down 6-4 to up 11-6. The inevitable Thornton added a three-pointer to cap a 12-2 run for Ohio State.
Washington came back. Forward Nikola Dzepina hit a three-pointer, and Guard Courtland Muldrew made one of his own before Diallo made two long threes. John Mobley Jr. then hit his first 3-pointer of the game.
The first half action saw the lead swing between four and two points as the two teams alternated field goals for the rest of the first half. Ohio State led Washington 38-36 at halftime.
Second Half
Ohio State opened the second half in style with an alley-oop from Mobley to Bynum for a massive slam. Thornton hit a slick step-back 3-pointer, and the Buckeyes were back up by 7. That was the end of the highlights for Ohio State. Washington then went on a 14-0 run.
Ohio State managed to keep the game fairly close. However, there was just too much Stienbach and Diallo. Ohio State Center Cristoph Tilly left the game injured and did not return. That hurt Ohio State, and they never got closer than five points in the final two minutes.
Turning Point
The turning point of the game happened in the second half. Washington went on a 14-0 run at the beginning of the second half. Even though Ohio State scored some after this run, the Buckeyes were never really in the game.
Key Performers
The key performers in this game for Ohio State were Thornton and Bynum. The key performers for the Huskies were Steinbach and Diallo, who both had 20 points. Steinbach added 9 rebounds.
Frequently Asked Questions
The final score of this game was Washington 81 and Ohio State 74. The most valuable player of the game was Steinbach, who had 21 points and 9 rebounds. Ohio State had no answer for him.
Ohio State next plays UCLA at home on 1/17. They have a week to recover from their West Coast trip. The Huskies have a tough row to hoe. They next host No. 4 Michigan on Wednesday. They play ranked Nebraska and ranked Michigan State after that.
News and Notes
- Washington’s second-leading scorer, guard Wesley Yares III, who averages 14.9 points per game, and its fourth-leading scorer, guard Desmond Claude (14.5 PPG), were both out vs. Ohio State.
- Ohio State is now 5-9 all-time against Washington.
Parting Thoughts
Ohio State will be happy to be done with their West Coast swing. They encountered some travel issues on the way to Washington. Their charter plane got stuck in Salt Lake City due to mechanical issues, so some of the team bused to Seattle while others took a last-minute commercial flight. This was a disappointing loss for the Buckeyes, perhaps reveling they are a championship team. Though, they were hampered by injuries in this game.
