Ohio State Survives Penn State Scare In Snowy Columbus

On a frigid Monday night in Columbus, Ohio, the Ohio State Buckeyes delivered a much-needed victory, toppling the Penn State Nittany Lions 84-78 at the Schottenstein Center. The win snapped Ohio State’s brief losing streak and provided a vital boost to their NCAA Tournament hopes, while Penn State’s Big Ten woes continued as their search for a conference win stretched on.

The Buckeyes entered the contest under pressure, having lost a tightly contested game to No. 3 Michigan just three days earlier in Ann Arbor. In that matchup, Ohio State led by six late in the second half before faltering down the stretch—a pattern that’s haunted Jake Diebler’s squad throughout the season. As the snow piled up in Columbus, so too did the urgency for Ohio State to get back in the win column, especially with the Nittany Lions coming in on a six-game losing skid and winless in conference play.

Despite the city digging out from a foot of snow, university officials confirmed that the game would proceed as scheduled. The cold, snowy conditions outside didn’t keep the Buckeyes’ faithful from showing up, though the stands weren’t quite as packed as usual. Inside, the energy was palpable as Ohio State looked to take advantage of a struggling Penn State squad that had allowed more than 90 points in each of its last two games and ranked 227th in KenPom’s defensive efficiency metric.

Ohio State faced its own adversity. The Buckeyes were without starting center Christoph Tilly and sixth man Gabe Cupps, both sidelined for undisclosed reasons. Brandon Noel remained out with a foot injury, further depleting an already thin bench. Ivan Njegovan stepped into the starting lineup at center, and Collin White, Taison Chatman, and Puff Johnson—all typically role players—were thrust into bigger minutes. Johnson, who had only just seen his first action of the season against Michigan, was called upon again to provide a spark off the bench.

From the opening tip, Ohio State’s game plan was clear: attack the paint and exploit Penn State’s defensive weaknesses. Bruce Thornton, the Buckeyes’ dynamic guard averaging 20 points and 3.6 assists per game, set the tone early. Thornton’s ability to get downhill and find his spots in the mid-range proved too much for the Nittany Lions’ defenders, who struggled to keep up with the Buckeyes’ ball-handlers all night.

John Mobley Jr. continued his hot shooting streak, knocking down multiple three-pointers and energizing the crowd with each make. Mobley had hit at least four threes in each of his last three contests, and his confidence was evident as he stretched the defense and opened up driving lanes for his teammates. The Buckeyes’ offense was further bolstered by the physical play of Amare Bynum and Devin Royal. The pair, described as being “built like NFL linebackers,” bullied their way to the rim, taking advantage of Penn State’s lack of rim protection. Bynum, in particular, drew cheers with a pair of thunderous dunks and celebrated a made shot and foul with visible emotion.

Penn State, meanwhile, struggled to find consistency on either end. The Nittany Lions’ defensive woes were apparent as Ohio State shot 59% on two-pointers and repeatedly broke down the perimeter defense. Offensively, Penn State leaned heavily on Kayden Mingo, their leading scorer at 14.6 points per game, but he faced an uphill battle against Ohio State’s disciplined defense. Mingo, who had scored 19 against Maryland but only six against Wisconsin, was forced into tough isolation looks that rarely paid off. The Nittany Lions’ shooting woes continued, hitting just 32% from beyond the arc as a team, with only Eli Rice connecting at a respectable clip.

Freddie Dilione V, another key Penn State guard, struggled to find his rhythm, while Melih Tunca—despite leading the team in blocks—couldn’t provide much resistance inside. The Nittany Lions’ lack of interior presence was exposed time and again, as Ohio State’s big men controlled the boards and scored efficiently in the paint.

Despite their struggles, Penn State refused to go quietly. The Nittany Lions mounted several runs in the second half, cutting into Ohio State’s lead and forcing Diebler to burn timeouts to regroup his squad. Ivan Juric and Josh Reed contributed key baskets for Penn State, and the visitors managed to keep the final margin respectable, a testament to their resilience even as their losing streak extended to seven games.

Ohio State’s bench, a concern all season, stepped up just enough to help secure the win. Puff Johnson made the most of his increased minutes, attacking the rim and providing energy on both ends. Taison Chatman also chipped in, helping to steady the offense when Thornton needed a breather. Ivan Njegovan, starting in place of Tilly, delivered a pair of emphatic dunks in the second half that brought the crowd to its feet and seemed to sap the last bit of hope from the Nittany Lions.

As the final buzzer sounded, the Buckeyes celebrated an 84-78 victory—a result that was crucial not just for the standings, but for the team’s morale and postseason aspirations. The win improved Ohio State’s record to 14-6 overall and 6-3 in Big Ten play, keeping them firmly in the conversation for an NCAA Tournament berth. For Penn State, the loss dropped them to 9-11 overall and kept them winless in conference action, a tough pill to swallow for head coach Mike Rhoades and his rebuilding squad.

After the game, the Buckeyes gathered at center court to sing “Carmen Ohio” with the fans, a tradition that felt especially meaningful after a hard-fought, much-needed win. John Mobley Jr. high-fived fans along the baseline, and head coach Jake Diebler exchanged a celebratory handshake with his staff. The victory provided a welcome reprieve from the recent cold streak—and the literal cold outside—as Ohio State looks to build momentum heading into the heart of Big Ten play.

With key players still sidelined and the schedule only getting tougher, the Buckeyes know they can’t afford to let up. But for one snowy night in Columbus, they did exactly what they needed to do: protect home court, keep hope alive, and remind the Big Ten that Ohio State basketball is a force to be reckoned with.