Ohio State Upsets No. 24 Wisconsin 86-69, Bruce Thornton Surpasses 2,000 Career Points
COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Ohio State Buckeyes delivered a dominant performance Tuesday night, defeating No. 24 Wisconsin 86-69 at the Schottenstein Center. The victory marked Ohio State’s first win against a ranked opponent this season and avenged an earlier loss to the Badgers.
Key Performances
Bruce Thornton led the Buckeyes with 27 points, nine rebounds, and eight assists. He surpassed Jerry Lucas and William Buford to move into third place on Ohio State’s all-time career scoring list, reaching 2,005 career points. Devin Royal added a season-high 25 points, shooting 10-of-17 from the field. Amare Bynum contributed 13 points, and Taison Chatman scored 11.
First Half Dominance
Ohio State established a strong lead in the first half, shooting 51.7% from the field and 6-of-13 from three-point range to build a 38-26 advantage at the break. Devin Royal was particularly effective, scoring 16 of his 25 points before halftime. The Buckeyes’ defense also played a key role, holding Wisconsin to just one three-pointer in the first half.
Second Half Surge
The Buckeyes extended their lead in the second half, shooting 57.1% from the floor. Thornton scored 24 of his 27 points after halftime, consistently driving to the basket and drawing fouls. Ohio State’s lead grew to as many as 20 points, with the Badgers unable to mount a significant comeback.
Wisconsin Struggles
Braeden Carrington led Wisconsin with 20 points, including five three-pointers, while Nick Boyd and John Blackwell each added 14 points. However, the Badgers struggled with their shooting, finishing at 45.8% from the field and 26.9% from three-point range. Wisconsin entered the game having recently defeated then-No. 8 Illinois and then-No. 10 Michigan State, but couldn’t replicate that success against Ohio State.
Game Statistics
| Wisconsin | Ohio State | |
|---|---|---|
| Points | 69 | 86 |
| FGM-FGA (PCT.) | 27-59 (45.8%) | 31-57 (54.4%) |
| 3PM-3PA (PCT.) | 7-26 (26.9%) | 11-21 (52.4%) |
| FTM-FTA (PCT.) | 8-16 (50%) | 13-19 (68.4%) |
| Turnovers | 12 | 14 |
| Total Rebounds | 27 | 35 |
| Offensive Rebounds | 10 | 11 |
| Defensive Rebounds | 17 | 24 |
| Bench Points | 28 | 8 |
| Blocks | 5 | 2 |
| Steals | 4 | 3 |
| Assists | 13 | 16 |
Looking Ahead
Ohio State (17-9, 9-6 Considerable Ten) will travel to East Lansing to face No. 15 Michigan State on Sunday at 1 p.m. On CBS. Wisconsin (18-8, 10-5 Big Ten) will host Iowa on Sunday.
Game Notes
- Ohio State improves to 92-78 all-time against Wisconsin.
- Devin Royal scored 12 points in the first 6:30 of the game, surpassing his entire point total from the previous game against Virginia.
- Bruce Thornton passed Jerry Lucas and William Buford’s mark of 1,990 points to move into third all-time in career points for the Buckeyes. He is now 92 points from passing Dennis Hopson for the most in Buckeye history.
- Ohio State was 0-6 against ranked teams this season before beating the Badgers.