Purdue Vs Ohio State: Buckeyes Rally to Beat No. 8 Purdue 82-74 in Columbus
In a win that revived their NCAA Tournament hopes, Ohio State defeated No. 8 Purdue 82-74 in a March 1, 2026 clash in Columbus, a result that cast new urgency over the late-season purdue vs ohio state matchup between the programs.
Purdue Vs Ohio State: Key moments that swung the game
John Mobley Jr. led Ohio State with 21 points as the Buckeyes improved to 18-11, 10-8 in the conference, while Purdue fell to 22-7, 12-6. Ohio State turned a game that had seen Purdue up by as many as seven in the first half into an 82-74 victory.
Big runs, free throws and a late push
Ohio State used a 14-3 run to open a 23-19 lead on Amare Bynum’s 3-pointer with 6: 44 to go in the first half, and the Buckeyes carried a five-point lead into halftime. Despite Purdue making 8 of 14 from 3-point range in the first half, Ohio State offset that at the line, hitting 8 of 11 free throws to Purdue’s 1 of 2 before the break.
Standout performances and crunch-time plays
Bruce Thornton scored 20 for Ohio State and finished the game with a pair of late free throws that provided breathing room in the final 31 seconds; Thornton’s free throws followed a push that had Purdue within six at that point. Amare Bynum added 14 points, and Devin Royal finished with 12 after his two free throws pushed the Buckeyes’ lead to 16 with 7: 41 to go in the second half.
How Purdue kept it close and where it unraveled
Braden Smith led Purdue with 20 points and Fletcher Loyer had 15, while Trey Kaufman-Renn contributed 19 and served as Purdue’s primary second-half offensive option. The Boilermakers were 3 for 15 from beyond the arc in the second half, a collapse from the outside that included a late Loyer 3 just before the buzzer after Ohio State fans had already begun celebrating.
Physical edge, rebounding and lineup matchups
Ohio State’s physical play and work on the glass created second-chance opportunities; the Buckeyes outrebounded Purdue 36 to 29. Purdue’s center pairing of Oscar Cluff and Daniel Jacobsen combined for 2 points and 6 rebounds, and the Buckeyes repeatedly attacked the rim, with players looking to finish at the basket against Jacobsen. The Boilermakers tried Jack Benter at the four for extended stretches in the second half but struggled to match Ohio State’s strength on the interior.
