Ohio State Falters Late In 71-69 Loss To Top-Ranked Purdue

The Boilermakers have won eight of their last 11 games against the Buckeyes, including four of five in Columbus.

Author:
Andrew Lind
Jan 5, 2023 9:20 PM EST

In this story:

Despite a game-high 21 points from freshman forward Brice Sensabaugh, No. 24 Ohio State came up just short in Thursday night’s matchup with top-ranked Purdue, 71-69.

The Buckeyes took a three-point lead with 41 seconds remaining on a three-pointer from fifth-year senior guard Sean McNeil, but a late turnover allowed the Boilermakers to hit the game-winning three with 11 on the clock.

Sensabaugh had a chance to win it at the buzzer, but he struggled to get a clean shot off under heavy defensive pressure. The loss, which was Ohio State’s first at home this season, dropped the Buckeyes to 10-4 overall and 2-1 in Big Ten play.

First Half:

Sensabaugh, the three-time reigning Big Ten Freshman of the Week, got the scoring started for the Buckeyes with a dunk on their first possession of the game.
Junior forward Zed Key left the game with a left shoulder injury after battling Purdue center Zach Edey for a defensive rebound, heading to the locker room at the 16:12 mark of the first half.
McNeil injured his right ankle after coming down on the foot of a defender on a three-point attempt, walking off the court under his own power before making his way to the locker room.
Ohio State went on an 12-0 run to take a 18-7 lead at the under-12 timeout, as freshman center Felix Okpara’s block of Edey led to a transition and-one by Sensabaugh on the other end.
Key was ruled out with a shoulder sprain, while McNeil returned to the Buckeyes’ bench and subsequently checked back with the Buckeyes holding an eight-point advantage at the under-8 timeout.
Sensabaugh, who had a game-high 13 points at halftime, made a mid-range jumper to put Ohio State ahead 30-21 with just over four minutes remaining in the half.
Purdue went on a 12-3 run, with every basket a three-pointer, to tie the game at 33-all before junior guard Eugene Brown knocked down one of his own to give the Buckeyes a 36-33 advantage at the break.

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Second Half:

The Boilermakers took their first lead since it was 7-6 with 15:42 remaining in the first half with a quick 5-0 run out of intermission, which Okpara ended with a jumper.
Edey, who was limited to just four points in the first half, scored six points in the first three minutes of the second half to pull the Boilermakers within one, 43-42.
Sixth-year senior forward Justice Sueing hit a three to extend the Buckeyes' lead to 46-42, but back-to-back three-pointers by Purdue gave the Boilermakers a 48-46 lead with 14:22 left in the game.
Okpara blocked Edey’s shot once again, which led to another dunk in transition by Sensabaugh to cut Purdue’s lead to 50-52. He then added two straight layups to tie the game at 54-all.
Ohio State went on a 6-0 run to take a 62-58 lead with 6:30 remaining before Purdue’s Ethan Morton knocked down a three-pointer to cut it to one.
The Boilermakers appeared to take a three-point lead on a layup, but Morton was called for a travel. Sensabaugh’s floating layup then gave the Buckeyes a 65-64 lead with just over three minutes remaining.
After Edey hit a pair of free throws, Okpara split a pair to tie it at 66. McNeil then knocked down a three-pointer from the top of the key with 41 seconds remaining to put Ohio State ahead, 69-66.
Edey's basket with 28 seconds remaining pulled Purdue within one, while a steal on the inbound ultimately led to Fletcher Loyer's game-winner with 11 seconds remaining.