Ohio State’s struggles continued on Sunday afternoon as they fell to Nebraska 79-71 in a crucial road matchup, dealing a blow to their NCAA Tournament chances.
The Buckeyes’ lack of depth was evident, with their bench contributing just six points. Two of their starters combined for only five points, leaving the team heavily reliant on just three players. Micah Parrish delivered a career-high 30 points, while John Mobley Jr. added 21. Bruce Thornton, coming off a strong performance against Maryland, was quieter with nine points.
When only three players score more than five points, winning becomes an uphill battle. The Buckeyes were also out-rebounded 37-28 and struggled at the free-throw line, where Nebraska outscored them 18-9. Inside the paint, the Huskers dominated with a 40-26 scoring advantage and shot an efficient 51.9% from the field compared to Ohio State’s 42.6%.
These numbers paint a clear picture—Ohio State struggled to defend the basket, failed to control the boards, and couldn’t match Nebraska’s efficiency inside. Without improved consistency, their tournament hopes will continue to fade.
Up next, the Buckeyes return home to face Washington on Wednesday night before hosting their biggest rival next Sunday at 1:00 PM. If their struggles near the rim persist, they risk losing to Michigan and missing the NCAA Tournament for the third straight season.
