In a tightly contested matchup on the road, the Ohio State Buckeyes were overcome by a late surge from the Illinois Fighting Illini, ultimately losing 87-79 on Sunday evening. This defeat ends Ohio State’s three-game winning streak and drops their record to 14-12 for the season. The game was characterized by a strong performance from Illinois’ Terrence Shannon Jr., who contributed significantly with 26 points while shooting 10-of-14 from the field, including hitting 5-of-9 from three-point range. Ohio State’s Zed Key led his team with 20 points and grabbed 8 rebounds, but despite a strong collective effort, the Buckeyes couldn’t withstand Illinois’ late-game pressure. Illinois secured the win by outscoring Ohio State 51-36 in the second half after trailing at halftime, which was described by Illinois head coach Brad Underwood as a ‘tale of two halves.’ Ohio State utilized a solid first half, going into the locker room with a 43-36 lead. However, they struggled to maintain their momentum in the final stretch of the game. ‘We had a chance to win the game there, but we couldn’t finish,’ Ohio State’s coach Chris Holtmann reflected post-game. The Buckeyes will next face Michigan at home in hopes to regroup and get back on track this coming Wednesday.
