COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ohio State basketball suffered another loss in the Big Ten Friday night against Wisconsin with the final score 61-57 at Value Center Arena.
Ohio State (11-3, 1-2 Big Ten). Despite leading most of the game except the final 42 seconds, the Buckeyes shot only 36 percent from the field and made just one of ten three-point attempts on the night. The Buckeyes turned the ball over seven times in key moments.
Wisconsin forward Nate Reuvers scored seven of his team-high 17 points over the final 3 minutes, 20 seconds of the game keeping the Ohio State at bay.
Sophomore Kobe King chipped in 13 points for the Badgers (9-5, 2-1 Big Ten), who also got solid contributions off their bench from Brevin Pritzl and freshman Tyler Wahl.
“This was a definition of a team win,” Gard said afterward. “We’ve had to grow and experience some growing pains as we’ve come through November and December, but I’m really proud of the effort tonight. We just kept battling and finding a way.”
Kaleb Wesson became the 59th OSU player to score 1,000 career points and the 37th player in OSU history to reach 500-rebound mark in the loss against West Virginia.
With 10 points in the first half of play, Kaleb Wesson had achieved history.
Duane Washington Jr. had plenty of good looks but only managed to get two buckets to fall, finished with five points for the half. The Badgers went into the break with a 29-25 lead.
Ohio State went on a shooting drought in the second half but Wesson hit a long three-pointer to cut the deficit to one 55-54. D’Mitrik Trice hit a pair of free throws and Nate Reuvers seal the victory for the Badgers to earn their second conference win.
Wesson would end the contest with 22 points and 13 rebounds. Washington Jr. didn’t shoot much in the half but finished the night with 18 points on 6-of-19 shooting.
Ohio State couldn’t find any offense besides Wesson in the second half. OSU suffered another Big Ten loss and second straight for the season. The Buckeyes shot 40 percent from the field and 30 percent from three-point range. Wisconsin (9-5, 2-1) managed just 38 percent shooting but was led by Reuvers and Micah Potter.
“I think we’ve grown a lot, especially on the road,” King said. “I think even early on, our struggles on the road were kind of just finding out who we were as a team. I think Tennessee helped a lot. I think we’re starting to jell more and more.”
