When Ohio State needed a hero Saturday night, Bruce Thornton answered the call-just a little later than usual.
The Buckeyes’ senior guard and four-year captain had a quiet first half, struggling to find rhythm against a scrappy West Virginia defense. But when the game tightened and the pressure mounted, Thornton flipped the switch. He scored 19 of his 21 points after halftime, including six clutch points in the final minute of double overtime-capping it off with the game-winner to seal a gutsy, much-needed win for Ohio State.
It wasn’t a banner shooting night for Thornton by any stretch. He finished 8-of-19 from the field and just 1-of-8 from deep.
But this game wasn’t about clean stat lines or pretty shooting percentages. It was about toughness, leadership, and finding a way when your best stuff isn’t there.
And that’s exactly what Thornton delivered.
What made his performance even more impressive was what he did on the other end of the floor. In the second overtime, Thornton took on the challenge of guarding West Virginia’s leading scorer, Honor Huff, who had been torching Ohio State with tough shot after tough shot.
Huff finished with 24 points, but with Thornton glued to him in the final frame, he was held to just two points in the second overtime. That’s the kind of defensive stand that doesn’t always show up in the box score, but it wins games.
Thornton was on the floor for nearly the entire 50-minute marathon, and the wear and tear showed. There were moments when he was slow to get up, clearly running on fumes.
But he kept going-diving for loose balls, fighting through screens, and leading by example. That’s what you want from your captain.
That’s what you need from your star.
Through ten games this season, Thornton is putting together a résumé that demands national attention. He’s currently 10th in the country in scoring, averaging 21.8 points per game while shooting nearly 60% from the field-an absurd level of efficiency for a high-usage guard. He’s not just playing well; he’s playing like an All-American.
Of course, for Ohio State to sustain this level of success, they’ll need more help from the backcourt. Thornton can’t carry this kind of load every night, and finding ways to manage his minutes will be key as the season wears on. But right now, this team is riding the wave of a senior guard who refuses to let them lose.
This win over West Virginia wasn’t pretty, but it was gritty, resilient, and full of heart. And at the center of it all was Bruce Thornton-willing his team forward, one clutch play at a time. If this is the tone he’s setting for the rest of the season, Ohio State fans have every reason to believe something special is brewing in Columbus.