For 30 minutes on Friday night in Ann Arbor, Ohio State looked like it belonged on the same floor as one of the top teams in the country. The Buckeyes had a one-point lead midway through the second half and were trading punches with a Michigan squad that’s been steamrolling much of the Big Ten. But then, the Wolverines found another gear-and the Buckeyes couldn’t keep up.
Michigan closed the game on a 27-14 run over the final eight minutes, pulling away for a 74-62 win. The Wolverines’ late surge wasn’t just about shot-making-it was about execution, poise, and a little bit of star power.
Yaxel Lendeborg was the engine behind it all, finishing with 18 points, nine boards, four assists, and three steals in 31 minutes. He was everywhere-on the glass, in passing lanes, and creating for others.
When Michigan needed someone to settle things down and make a play, Lendeborg delivered.
For Ohio State, John Mobley Jr. was the bright spot. The freshman guard poured in 22 points on 9-of-17 shooting, including four triples.
He was aggressive, confident, and gave Michigan’s defense problems all night. But he didn’t get much help.
Outside of Mobley, the Buckeyes struggled to find rhythm or consistent scoring.
And that was a theme all game long-Ohio State had a hard time generating good looks and moving the ball. The Buckeyes finished with just seven assists against 13 turnovers. That’s a tough ratio to overcome, especially on the road against a top-tier opponent.
First Half: Trading Blows
Ohio State came out with energy and didn’t back down. They led 20-16 at the under-eight media timeout, and Mobley was cooking early-14 points on 6-of-11 shooting, including two makes from deep.
But the rest of the team couldn’t find the range. Outside of Mobley, the Buckeyes went 0-of-6 from three in the first half.
Despite taking six more shots than Michigan, Ohio State shot just 39.3% from the field before the break, compared to Michigan’s 50%. The Wolverines closed the half strong and took a 33-30 lead into the locker room.
It was a grind-it-out first half. Michigan held a slight edge on the boards (18-16), but Ohio State was more active on the offensive glass (7-5).
The big difference came in ball security-Michigan had eight assists to eight turnovers, while Ohio State managed just two assists and turned it over seven times. Lendeborg led the Wolverines with nine points in the opening 20 minutes and was already making his presence felt.
Second Half: Michigan Pulls Away
The Buckeyes came out of halftime swinging. They opened the second half on a 10-1 run, flipping the score and grabbing a 40-34 lead.
That burst forced Michigan head coach Dusty May to burn a quick timeout less than three minutes in. But whatever was said in that huddle worked.
Michigan responded with an 11-0 run of its own, reclaiming the lead at 45-40. From there, the game turned into a back-and-forth battle for a few minutes. Ohio State briefly regained the lead at 48-47, but then Michigan started to heat up from beyond the arc and stretched the lead to double digits.
With just over four minutes to play, the Wolverines had built a 13-point cushion. They kept their foot on the gas and closed it out with authority, securing a 12-point win that moves them to 18-1 overall and 8-1 in the Big Ten. Ohio State drops to 13-6 and 5-4 in conference play.
What It Means
This was a measuring stick game for Ohio State, and for about 30 minutes, they measured up. The Buckeyes showed they can compete with one of the best teams in the country on the road. That matters in the Big Ten, where every game is a battle and margins are razor-thin.
But moral victories don’t show up in the standings. If Ohio State wants to make noise in March, they’ve got to clean up the offensive execution.
Seven assists to 13 turnovers just won’t cut it. And the shooting has to improve.
The Buckeyes went 8-of-27 from three and shot 40.7% overall. Against elite teams like Michigan, that’s not going to get the job done.
The talent is there. Mobley looks like a budding star.
But for Ohio State to take the next step, they’ll need more consistent contributions around him-especially from the perimeter. The Big Ten grind doesn’t get any easier, and if the Buckeyes want to stay on the right side of the NCAA Tournament bubble, they’ll need to tighten things up quickly.