Ohio State just wrapped up a physical, grind-it-out battle that proves exactly why Big Ten basketball is a nightmare for the faint of heart. If you're looking for the score of Ohio State, the Buckeyes just took down No. 14 Indiana with a 74-69 victory at Value City Arena. It wasn't always pretty. Honestly, it was downright ugly for about ten minutes in the first half when neither team could buy a bucket from the perimeter. But for head coach Jake Diebler, a win is a win, especially when it comes against a ranked divisional rival in mid-January.
The atmosphere in Columbus was electric. You could feel the tension. Every time Indiana’s Oumar Ballo touched the ball in the paint, the crowd held its collective breath. Ballo is a mountain of a man, and he finished with 18 points and 12 rebounds, but Ohio State’s interior defense did just enough to make his life miserable in the closing minutes.
Breaking Down the Ohio State Basketball Score and Key Stats
The final 74-69 tally doesn't quite tell the whole story of how momentum swung like a pendulum. Ohio State trailed by six at the half. They looked sluggish. Bruce Thornton, the heartbeat of this roster, started 1-of-7 from the field. You've seen this script before if you follow the Buckeyes—a slow start that leads to a frantic, often unsuccessful, comeback attempt. This time, the script flipped.
Thornton ended the night with 22 points. He’s a bulldog. He got to the free-throw line 10 times in the second half alone, basically baiting the Hoosiers' guards into reaching. When Thornton plays with that level of aggression, Ohio State is a completely different animal.
Second Half Surge
The turnaround started with a 12-2 run right out of the locker room. Micah Parrish hit two massive transition threes that forced Indiana coach Mike Woodson to burn a timeout early. The score of Ohio State games this season has largely been dictated by their ability to defend without fouling, a metric where they struggled tonight but made up for with pure offensive rebounding. They grabbed 14 offensive boards. That’s grit.
🔗 Read more: Texas vs Oklahoma Football Game: Why the Red River Rivalry is Getting Even Weirder
- Bruce Thornton: 22 points, 5 assists
- Micah Parrish: 15 points, 3 steals
- Team Rebounding: 38 (OSU) to 32 (IU)
- Turnovers: Ohio State took care of the rock, only giving it up 8 times.
Why This Win Changes the Big Ten Outlook
Let's be real for a second. Before tonight, people were questioning if this Buckeyes team had the depth to compete for a top-four seed in the conference tournament. Losing to Michigan earlier in the month stung. It left a mark. But beating a ranked Indiana team provides a massive "Quad 1" win for their NCAA Tournament resume.
The Big Ten is a meat grinder. On any given night, a team like Rutgers or Nebraska can ruin your season. By securing this score of Ohio State 74, Indiana 69, the Buckeyes move to 5-3 in conference play. They’re sitting right in the thick of the race, trailing only Purdue and Illinois.
It’s about the "eye test" too. We saw Aaron Bradshaw finally use his length. The Kentucky transfer has been a bit of an enigma this season, but his three blocks in the second half changed the geometry of the court. Indiana’s guards stopped driving. They got scared of the rim. That’s the kind of defensive identity Diebler has been preaching since he took over the job permanently.
The Impact of the Home Crowd at Value City Arena
There’s often a critique that the Schottenstein Center—or Value City Arena—is too big and corporate. It lacks the "cavernous" feel of Mackey Arena or the hostility of the Izzone. Tonight felt different. The student section was packed, and the noise level peaked when Thornton hit a step-back jumper to put the Buckeyes up by five with under two minutes to go.
💡 You might also like: How to watch vikings game online free without the usual headache
Home-court advantage is everything in college hoops. When you look at the score of Ohio State home games versus their road splits, the disparity is glaring. They shoot nearly 8% better from the three-point line in Columbus. If they want to make a deep run in March, they have to find a way to pack that energy in a suitcase and take it to places like Bloomington or East Lansing.
Comparing This to Recent Ohio State Performances
If we look back at the last three games, the trend line is pointing up.
- A 10-point win over Maryland: Efficient, but boring.
- A narrow loss to Wisconsin: Frustrating. They blew a lead in the final four minutes.
- Tonight's win over Indiana: A complete performance under pressure.
The evolution of Mobley and Meechie Johnson Jr. as secondary creators has relieved the pressure on Thornton. Earlier in the season, if Bruce wasn't scoring, the offense stalled. Now, they have multiple options. Johnson didn't have his best shooting night tonight—going 2-of-9—but his gravity on the court opens up lanes for others.
What’s Next for the Buckeyes?
The schedule doesn't get any easier. They head to Iowa City next, a place where defense goes to die. They'll need to keep the scoring pace high.
📖 Related: Liechtenstein National Football Team: Why Their Struggles are Different Than You Think
To stay updated on the Buckeyes' trajectory, keep an eye on the NET rankings. As of this morning, Ohio State was sitting at 32nd. This win should vault them into the high 20s. For fans, that’s the difference between being a 7-seed and a 5-seed in the Big Dance.
Actionable Takeaways for Fans
- Watch the turnover margin: Ohio State wins when they keep turnovers under 10. It’s their "magic number."
- Monitor Bruce Thornton's usage: If he’s taking more than 15 shots, it usually means the rest of the offense is struggling to find a rhythm.
- Check the injury report: There were some whispers about Parrish favoring his ankle late in the game; his health is paramount for the defensive perimeter.
The Buckeyes showed they belong in the conversation. They aren't just a "spoiler" team anymore; they're a contender. Keep an eye on the rebounding numbers in the next game, as that was the secret sauce tonight. If they can outwork teams on the glass, they're going to be a very tough out in March.
Go check the updated Big Ten standings. The Buckeyes are climbing, and the road ahead is finally looking clear.