The Badgers defeat Ohio State 62–54 to end a four-game losing run.
Wisconsin put an end to their four-game losing streak on Tuesday by fending off a second-half surge from Ohio State, securing their first victory since Jan. 26. This win extended Ohio State’s road losing streak to 16 games, dating back to Jan. 1, 2023.
The Badgers showcased dominance in the interior, outrebounding Ohio State 39–26 and scoring 17 second-chance points compared to the Buckeyes’ seven. AJ Storr and Steven Crowl played pivotal roles in controlling the boards, collecting 12 and 14 rebounds, respectively. Wisconsin also asserted control at the free-throw line, attempting 16 free throws while limiting Ohio State to only two attempts.
Chucky Hepburn and Max Klesmit delivered an outstanding defensive performance, particularly with Klesmit preventing Jamison Battle from scoring until the final 30 seconds of the game, and Hepburn limiting Ohio State’s point guard Bruce Thornton to 18 points on 19 field goal attempts.
Hepburn, recognizing the importance of neutralizing Thornton, expressed post-game, “In the Big 10, most of the opponent’s teams start with the point guard. My main goal is to take the point guard out of the game because that kinda disrupts the rhythm of the opponent.” Besides his defensive contributions, Hepburn nearly had a flawless offensive performance, tallying nine points (3-5 FG), seven assists, five rebounds, and no turnovers in 39 minutes.
Crowl led the Badgers in points with 16, securing his sixth double-double of the season, while Storr achieved his second career double-double with 14 points and 12 boards, including six offensive rebounds.
Despite Ohio State’s Thornton scoring 18 points, Roddy Gayle Jr. and Evan Mahaffey were the only other Buckeyes to reach double digits with 10 points each.
Wisconsin took an early lead and never trailed throughout the game. Although they faced some challenges, including a six-minute stretch without a field goal in the first half, they managed to bounce back, going on a 14–2 run before halftime to secure a 34–21 lead.
The lead expanded to 17 early in the second half, but Ohio State mounted a comeback, cutting the difference to six at one point. Nevertheless, the Badgers tightened up defensively, preventing a Buckeye comeback and ultimately securing an eight-point victory.
Despite the recent losing streak, Wisconsin currently holds third place in the Big 10, trailing behind Illinois by half a game and Purdue by 2.5 games. Before facing Illinois and Purdue in March, the Badgers will complete their February schedule with a road game against Iowa, a home match against Maryland, and a road game against Indiana.
