Before we do anything else, I have to ask for forgiveness for my first half-saltiness during my live updates article while the Ohio State basketball team was laying a turd on the floor of Rocket Arena in Cleveland vs. West Virginia. The Buckeyes looked uninspired and uninterested in playing the game of American basketball, and I was not kind.
The second half was another story. The Buckeyes erased a 16-point deficit in the second half and came all the way back to force not one, but two overtimes that can only be explained by a gut check, an instant classic. Both teams battled and made shots down the stretch, but Ohio State was able to withstand it all and win by a narrow 89-88 score.
There’s a lot to take from this one, and as we normally do, we have pulled out three things we think we learned about this team. Suffice to say, a very negative column has turned more positive after what we all just witnessed. Hopefully, you stayed up for it all.
Ohio State has to be more consistent and play a full 40 minutes
THE TOUGHER TEAM#GoBucks | #FightToTheEndpic.twitter.com/5UMfD0xDbE
— Ohio State Hoops (@OhioStateHoops) December 14, 2025
OK, let’s get the bad out of the way first. The first half was bad — like really bad. On offense, Ohio State was standing around the perimeter, the wrong guys were settling for long-range shots, there were many instances of questionable judgment with fouls and turnovers, and there was a lack of energy and hustle. It was about as bad as it could get, and as a result, the Buckeyes went into the locker room down 37-27.
The second half didn’t start much better, but then Ohio State began to climb out of the hole with better energy on both ends of the floor, better shot selection, and better action. It was like two teams played both halves. It’s great that the Buckeyes came back and won this one to save me from having to buy another computer because of it being planted up against the wall, but this team has to be more consistent. There have been far too many lapses for long periods of time, and you can’t expect to have a miracle finish like what we saw tonight more than a few times a season.
Find that way of playing from the jump and go do some things this year.
Amare Bynun needs to be a starter going forward for Ohio State
AMARE BYNUM 😳🔨🔨🔨
Doing it all off the bench for THE BUCKEYES! https://t.co/Swi2pDoz0ppic.twitter.com/l9Wc6JAug4
— Drive The Lane (@DriveTheLanePod) December 14, 2025
One of the big reasons why Ohio State was able to turn things around was the play of freshman Amare Bynum. In the first few games of the season, he looked like he was feeling things out, but there were still flashes of an athletic presence that nobody else on the Buckeyes has.
He’s now making a big difference. His energy in starting the second half was contagious and sparked the turnaround for the entire team. He possesses some fast-twitch ability and a mindset to go with it that this team will need going forward. This sure did feel like his coming-out party, and we might be seeing a star in the making. He finishes with 17 points on 6-of-11 shooting, but also hauled in eight rebounds and had three assists from a non-guard spot.
He can’t replace Bruce Thornton or any more of the guards, but it looks like Brandon Noel might have to be relegated to a bench player after tonight because Ohio State is a much better team with him on the floor.
Give me Bruce Thornton when the chips are down for Ohio State
BRUCE THORNTON GAME-WINNER FOR THE BUCKEYES IN 2OT 🤯
Ohio State trailed by as many as 14 😳 pic.twitter.com/jaDHnGd4Rp
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) December 14, 2025
Some guys just have the clutch gene and want the ball when it’s winning time. Ohio State senior guard Bruce Thonton checks that box. He struggled throughout the first half and a little into the second, but as the sands of the hourglass began to run out, he made shot after shot. Whether it be free throws because of getting fouled, getting the team into its offensive set and not turning the ball over in extreme pressure situations, or hitting the game-winner, he was the one who willed this team home.
Thornton could have left and gone somewhere else for his senior season, but he chose to stick around for Jake Diebler and the program, and I can only imagine where this team would be without him on the roster. I don’t know if this team makes the NCAA Tournament or not — there are still things that have to get better — but I know it doesn’t have a chance without him.
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This article originally appeared on Buckeyes Wire: Ohio State basketball beats West Virginia: 3 things we learned
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