Ohio State secured a hard-fought 86-82 victory over Northwestern in their Big Ten opener. Brandon Noel led the Buckeyes with 29 points on an efficient 13-for-15 shooting performance.
The game remained close throughout, but Ohio State unleashed an 18-7 run in the second half to grab a 64-61 lead with just over eight minutes left. Northwestern’s Arrinten Page tied the game momentarily with a three-pointer, but Noel responded quickly with two free throws and a layup to push Ohio State ahead.
Bruce Thornton contributed significantly, scoring 17 points while dishing out 10 assists. Amare Bynum added 11 points, and Devin Royal contributed 10 points to support the Buckeyes’ offensive effort. Ohio State shot an impressive 57 percent from the field, making 35 of 61 attempts.
On the Wildcats’ side, Nick Martinelli was the top performer with 32 points, eight rebounds, and four assists. He dominated the first half, scoring 18 points and grabbing six rebounds as Northwestern built a 44-40 halftime lead. Angelo Ciaravino and Arrinten Page also made notable contributions with 14 and 13 points, respectively.
Northwestern fought back late in the game, narrowing the gap to 82-81 with 21 seconds remaining. However, Ohio State calmly sealed the win by converting critical free throws in the final moments. This victory marked Ohio State’s first conference win, bringing their record to 7-1 overall and 1-0 in Big Ten play. Northwestern fell to 5-4 overall and 0-2 in the conference.
Looking ahead, Ohio State will host the No. 14 Illinois State team on Tuesday, aiming to maintain their momentum. Northwestern will return home to face Jackson State on Saturday as they try to bounce back from their second consecutive conference loss.
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