At the Nashville Hoops Showdown, Ohio State Buckeyes men’s basketball went toe-to-toe with No. 15 Virginia Cavaliers men’s basketball until the final minute, but the Cavaliers made key plays late to secure a 70–66 non-conference victory.
Ohio State moves to 16–9 on the season, while Virginia improves to 22–3.
Bruce Thornton led all scorers with 28 points, adding four rebounds and three steals in an impressive all-around performance. Freshman Amare Bynum stepped up in a big way with second-leading scorer John Mobley Jr. sidelined due to a hand injury. Bynum knocked down three of his four attempts from beyond the arc, finishing with 15 points and a team-high six rebounds.
Christoph Tilly also reached double figures with 11 points. Taison Chatman made his first collegiate start in place of Mobley, logging a career-high 30 minutes and contributing four points.
The difference ultimately came at the free-throw line. Virginia capitalized on its opportunities, going 22-of-32 from the stripe, while the Buckeyes attempted just nine free throws, converting six.
Ohio State came out strong, jumping to a 12–4 lead at the first media timeout. Virginia steadily chipped away, eventually taking a 36–31 advantage late in the first half before the teams entered the locker room tied at 37–37. Thornton and Bynum each poured in 10 first-half points to pace the Buckeyes.
Behind Thornton’s leadership, Ohio State reclaimed momentum midway through the second half, building a 57–51 lead with 10 minutes remaining. But Virginia responded again, tying the game at 59–59 three minutes later and setting the stage for a tense finish.
After the Cavaliers took a 63–61 lead at the 4:43 mark, both teams endured a three-and-a-half-minute scoring drought that proved pivotal. Bynum drained a clutch three-pointer to trim the deficit to 66–64 with 33 seconds left, but Virginia held firm at the free-throw line in the closing moments to seal the win in a hard-fought Nashville battle.
