Washington defeats Ohio State 81-74
Washington Edges Out Ohio State in Thrilling Conference Rematch
The Alaska Airlines Arena was electric on Tuesday night as the Washington Huskies hosted their arch-rivals, the Ohio State Buckeyes, in a highly anticipated conference matchup. The home team came out swinging, erasing a 2-point halftime deficit to secure an 81-74 victory.
At halftime, it seemed that Ohio State had secured control of the game, leading by just two points (36-38). However, the Huskies responded with a potent second-half push, fueled by timely three-point shooting and stifling defense. Washington's Zoom Diallo led the charge, scoring 10 of his 22 points in the final frame.
The Buckeyes struggled to contain Diallo, who hit 6-of-12 from beyond the arc, including two key threes that helped spark Washington's comeback. Meanwhile, Ohio State's Bruce Thornton was nearly unstoppable, pouring in 28 points on 3-of-7 three-point shooting. However, his efforts weren't enough to propel the Buckeyes past their determined hosts.
The game featured several pivotal moments throughout, with both teams trading baskets and showcasing their respective strengths. Washington's Hannes Steinbach outmuscled Ohio State's Devin Royal for key rebounds, while JJ Mandaquit's five assists helped keep the Huskies' offense clicking.
In terms of overall team performance, Washington outshot Ohio State 55.4% to 48.4% from the field and held a significant edge in free throw shooting (83.0% vs. 87.0%). The Huskies also controlled the paint, scoring 40 points against the Buckeyes' 38.
The final margin of victory was seven points, with Washington's largest lead coming at 8 points early in the second half. Ohio State's largest lead was nine points, but the Buckeyes ultimately couldn't sustain their advantage throughout.
As the conference season heats up, this win serves as a significant statement from Washington. The Huskies have now taken control of their own destiny and will look to build on this momentum heading into their next matchup.
Final Box Score
* Washington: 28/56 (50.0%), 22/38 (57.9%) 3PT, 19/23 FT
* Ohio State: 27/63 (43.0%), 20/41 (48.8%) 2PT, 13/15 FT