Ohio State Season Ends At Hands of Edey, Purdue in Big Ten Tourney

The Ohio State Buckeyes' cinderella Big Ten Tournament run came to an end Saturday against the Purdue Boilermakers.

Author:
Casey Smith
Mar 11, 2023 3:23 PM EST

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The Ohio State Buckeyes had no answer for Purdue Boilermakers center Zach Edey who had 32 points with 14 rebounds for his second double-double against the Ohio State this season.

Ohio State's (16-19) historic run in the Big Ten Tournament — in which it became the first team to play on Wednesday and Saturday of the conference tournament — came to an end with an 80-66 loss to Purdue (28-5) at the United Center in Chicago.

Forward Eugene Brown III was called for a flagrant 1 hook-and-hold foul on Purdue center Zach Edey at the 3:51 mark in the first half following a bucket from guard Braden Smith.

Edey knocked down both free throws and got a jumper to fall, giving Purdue a 33-31 lead, as the Boilermakers' six-point possession capped off its 10-2 run across a 4:21 span.

Edey had just four points in the first 11 minutes of play, but charged late knocking down five of his final six field goal attempts leading the Boilermakers in the first half with 17 of his 32 points.

The Buckeyes' offense went cold for the final 9:36 of the first half, making just three of their 11 shot attempts after starting 10-for-15. Ohio State shot 50 percent from the field and 64 percent from deep in the first half.

Purdue closed the final 7:58 of the first half on a 21-5 run, carrying a 42-34 lead into the half.

Guard Bruce Thornton, who led the Buckeyes with 53 points in the first three games of the conference tournament, was held scoreless until a corner 3-pointer with 11:52 to go in the second half.

That jump-started a 15-6 Ohio State run in which it drew within six points.

Edey scored 10 of Purdue's 12 points across an 8:40 stretch through the second half, as the Boilermakers led 65-55 with 4:14 to go.

Without forward Brice Sensabaugh for the Buckeyes again Saturday, the Boilermakers took an 8-2 lead in the first 2:24, but the Roddy Gayle Jr. show was back in town at the United Center.

Gayle knocked down his first five 3-point attempts as he bested his career high he set Friday in the first half alone with 16 points at the break. Every other Buckeye combined for 18 points in the opening frame.

Gayle finished with 20 points on 7-for-9 from the field and 5-of-6 from deep.

With the game tied 19-19, Ohio State got a trio of makes from downtown with a layup from guard Isaac Likekele and a dunk from center Felix Okpara. Two Purdue free throws split up the Buckeyes' 13-2 run, as they held their largest lead of the game at 29-21 with 8:18 to go in the first half.

Forward Justice Sueing added 15 points, ending his Ohio State career with seven-consecutive games in double figures.

Purdue will face the winner of Penn State-Indiana Sunday in the Big Ten Tournament title game on CBS at 3:30 p.m.