COLUMBUS, Ohio — In a thrilling matchup on Sunday, Vladislav Goldin made a pivotal putback basket with just 52 seconds remaining, contributing to his impressive 20-point and 10-rebound outing as No. 20 Michigan narrowly defeated Ohio State 86-83.
Danny Wolf also shined for Michigan, finishing the game with 17 points and 11 rebounds, helping the team maintain its top spot in the Big Ten Conference standings with a record of 20-5, including 12-2 in conference play. Nimari Burnett supported the Wolverines with 11 points, securing their sixth consecutive victory.
For Ohio State, Devin Royal led the scoring with 26 points alongside five rebounds, while Bruce Thornton contributed 17 points. Unfortunately for the Buckeyes, Thornton’s attempt to equalize in the last moments fell short. John Mobley Jr. also added 16 points to Ohio State’s efforts.
In terms of notable performances, Michigan recently achieved a victory against seventh-ranked Purdue with a score of 75-73, and they are expected to rise in the rankings following this latest win. Roddy Gayle Jr., who previously played for Ohio State, was met with boos throughout the match but delivered a key shot that secured Michigan’s lead at 82-80, ultimately finishing with nine points and eight rebounds.
Ohio State faced a missed opportunity for a crucial Quad 1 victory in a game characterized by 11 ties and 16 lead changes. Looking ahead, the Buckeyes have five remaining games on their schedule, with none featuring currently ranked opponents. However, they struggled against Michigan’s formidable duo of 7-footers, Goldin and Wolf. This defeat was particularly disappointing as it came during the Buckeyes’ first sellout of the season at Value City Arena, which accommodates 18,018 spectators.
A turning point in the game occurred after Gayle’s critical shot that put Michigan ahead, as they then secured a defensive stop before Goldin’s third-chance rebound basket extended their lead to 84-80, less than a minute from the final buzzer.
Statistically, Michigan dominated the boards, out-rebounding Ohio State 46-31 and leading in second-chance points (21-12) and points in the paint (46-34). This marked Wolf’s 11th double-double of the season, while Goldin registered his third.
Looking ahead, Ohio State is set to host Northwestern on Thursday, whereas Michigan will face No. 11 Michigan State on Friday.
