wisconsin vs ohio state: Buckeyes' hot shooting hands No. 24 Badgers an 86-69 defeat
Ohio State rolled to an 86-69 victory over No. 24 Wisconsin on Tuesday evening (ET), turning a fast start and red-hot perimeter shooting into a decisive road win. The Badgers, who entered the week riding momentum, were unable to overcome cold three-point shooting, costly turnovers and foul shooting issues in what became a one-sided second half.
Buckeyes overwhelm from deep and control tempo early
Ohio State set the tone immediately, building an early lead that stretched to 24-12 as the Buckeyes pushed the pace and took advantage of high-percentage looks. The home team finished with 11 made triples at a sizzling 52. 4 percent from long range, and their first-half efficiency was particularly damaging: Ohio State shot 51. 7 percent from the field and 46. 2 percent from three before the break.
Devin Royal keyed the early burst, scoring seven quick points and pacing the Buckeyes with 14 in the first half. Amare Bynum and Bruce Thornton each chipped in with multiple long-range bombs, giving Ohio State a balanced attack that Wisconsin struggled to contain. The Buckeyes' outside shooting turned what might have been a competitive matchup into a runaway by the midway point, as Wisconsin could not match the volume or accuracy from deep.
Badgers' struggles: shooting, turnovers and the free-throw line
Wisconsin, which had climbed to No. 24 in the poll the day before, looked out of sync on offense. The Badgers made just 7 of 26 attempts from three, and their starters combined for only two makes on 12 tries. Outside of one contributor who managed to find some success from distance, the rest of the rotation couldn't convert looks that had been falling in recent games.
Turnovers compounded Wisconsin's problems. Key playmakers were careless with the ball at times — Nick Boyd and John Blackwell each committed three turnovers — and a couple of ill-timed miscues in the second half forced quick substitutions and disrupted any comeback trajectory. Fatigue also showed at the foul line: Wisconsin went 8 of 16 from the stripe, leaving potential points on the floor in a game that ultimately required every scoring avenue to stay close.
The Badgers led for only 44 seconds in the matchup and never managed a sustained run to wrest control back. Late efforts narrowed the gap briefly, but Ohio State's hot shooting and steady ball movement kept the momentum firmly with the hosts.
Implications and what’s next
The loss drops Wisconsin to 18-8 overall and 10-5 in conference play, ending what had been a promising stretch that included recent wins over quality opponents. For Ohio State, the victory bolsters the home resume and demonstrates the Buckeyes' ability to explode from distance when the shots are falling.
Both teams will turn their attention quickly to the next stretch of conference games, where shooting consistency and ball security will remain decisive factors. For Wisconsin, reclaiming their three-point touch and tightening up on turnovers will be priorities. For Ohio State, replicating this level of outside accuracy and pace will be the blueprint for continued success in Big Ten play.
