Buckeyes survive double overtime battle with Minnesota

COLUMBUS – The Buckeyes needed double overtime but they battled back to beat Minnesota in Minneapolis. Ohio State and first-year head coach Jake Diebler improve to .500 in Big Ten play with the win.

Ohio State trailed for most of the second half with the Golden Gophers leading by as many as seven points. The Buckeyes chipped away at the Golden Gophers lead, however. A slick pass from guard John Mobley Jr. to forward Devin Royal tied the game at 64 with five seconds left in regulation and a foul gave Royal the opportunity to win it at the line. Royal missed the free throw, however, which sent the game to overtime.

Minnesota controlled the first overtime period. The Golden Gophers led by as many as four points in the first overtime. But the Buckeyes never stopped fighting and they got some bailed out by bad decisions from the Golden Gophers. Minnesota forward Kadyn Betts fouled John Mobley Jr. at half court while up only two and Mobley went on to sink the ensuing free throws to send the game to double overtime at 73-73.

Ohio State started out hot in the second overtime period. A three from Bruce Thornton along with a three-point play by forward Aaron Bradshaw and a layup from guard Ques Glover put the Buckeyes up by eight points with three minutes remaining. From there, Minnesota made several shots to keep the game close but Ohio State made all of its free throws in double overtime to close out the 89-88 win.

Devin Royal led Ohio State offensively with 19 points and seven rebounds. Bruce Thornton had 18 points and three assists. John Mobley, Ques Glover and guard Micah Parrish also finished in double-digits 12, 13 and 11 respectively.

Full Big Ten hoops slate for Ohio State

Here’s the lineup of conference games Ohio State will play this winter:

Dec. 4 at Maryland (L, 83-59)
Dec. 7 vs. Rutgers (W, 80-66)
Jan. 3 vs. Michigan State (L, 69-62)
Jan. 6 at Minnesota (W, 89-88)
Jan. 9 vs. Oregon
Jan. 14 at Wisconsin
Jan. 17 vs. Indiana
Jan. 21 at Purdue
Jan. 27 vs. Iowa
Jan. 30 at Penn State
Feb. 2 at Illinois
Feb. 6 vs. Maryland
Feb. 9 at Nebraska
Feb. 12 vs. Washington
Feb. 16 vs. Michigan
Feb. 20 vs. Northwestern
Feb. 23 at UCLA
Feb. 26 at USC
March 4 vs. Nebraska
March 8 at Indiana
March 12-16 Big Ten Tournament (Indianapolis)