Badgers Stumble in Columbus, Fall to Ohio State 86-69
COLUMBUS, Ohio – After consecutive victories over top-10 opponents, the Wisconsin Badgers suffered a disappointing road loss Tuesday night, falling to the Ohio State Buckeyes 86-69. The defeat casts a shadow over Wisconsin’s Big Ten title hopes and potentially impacts their tournament positioning.
The Buckeyes seized control early, fueled by a dominant first-half performance from Devin Royal, who scored 16 of his game-high 25 points before halftime. Royal sparked an 18-4 Ohio State run, establishing a 22-10 lead midway through the first half that Wisconsin could never overcome.
Wisconsin’s offensive struggles were particularly glaring from beyond the arc. The Badgers, coming off games where they shot 40% from three-point range, connected on just seven of 26 attempts, including a dismal 1-for-8 showing in the opening period. Ohio State effectively neutralized Wisconsin’s outside threat, mirroring their success in a previous matchup this season where they limited the Badgers’ three-point production.
Nolan Winter provided a spark early for Wisconsin, contributing 10 points and five rebounds in the first half, but was held scoreless after the break. The Badgers’ guards, Nick Boyd and John Blackwell, combined for just 11-for-26 shooting from the field and 2-for-9 from three-point range. Braeden Carrington was the exception, finding a rhythm in the second half to lead Wisconsin with 20 points.
Freshman Hayden Jones offered energy off the bench, playing 15 minutes and scoring six points, including three offensive rebounds. However, a missed pair of free throws with a chance to narrow the deficit to 11 points proved costly, shifting momentum back to Ohio State.
Free throw shooting proved to be a significant weakness for the Badgers as they finished the night shooting a season-low 8-for-16 from the line.
Wisconsin never managed to close the gap below 12 points, trailing by that margin at halftime, and only led for 44 seconds throughout the entire game. Ohio State extended their lead to as many as 20 points, largely due to a strong second-half performance from Bruce Thornton, who finished with 27 points, with 24 coming after intermission.
Ohio State’s efficient three-point shooting – 11 of 21 for 52.4% – further compounded Wisconsin’s problems. While the Buckeyes committed 14 turnovers, Wisconsin was unable to capitalize, committing 12 turnovers of their own, their most in five games.
The loss represents a setback for Wisconsin (18-8, 10-5 Big Ten), diminishing their chances of winning a share of the Big Ten title. With No. 1 Michigan holding a 4.5-game lead with five games remaining, a conference championship now appears unlikely. The defeat also drops the Badgers to sixth place in the conference standings.
Wisconsin will look to rebound on Sunday when they host Iowa (19-7, 9-6 Big Ten). The Hawkeyes are coming off a 57-52 victory over No. 9 Nebraska. Tip-off is scheduled for 3 p.m.
