The Ohio State basketball team came into Saturday afternoon with a big opportunity. They were taking on 12th-ranked North Carolina in Atlanta in a neutral-site game. Winning that game would give the Buckeyes the best win on their resume thus far.
After beating West Virginia in double overtime, the Ohio State Buckeyes thought they had a shot to win this game. It looked ugly early, with the Buckeyes falling down by as much as 11. Yet, they were able to fight back and were just down three at halftime, giving themselves a chance.
Devin Royal was key for the Buckeyes early in this game. He kept them afloat in the first half. He had 11 points quickly, keeping Ohio State within striking distance. He finished the game with 18 points and seven rebounds. It was Bruce Thornton who took over in the second half. Yet, it wasn't enough.
Ohio State basketball program loses to North Carolina in heartbreaking fashion
Thornton was big late, scoring every chance he had. He ended up finishing with 16 points. Had he not been on the court, Ohio State never would have had a shot to win this game. His ability to slither into the paint and make shots is what makes him so valuable to this team.
Yet, it wasn't enough. Ohio State lost the game 71-70 after a poor defensive breakdown late in the game that allowed an easy dunk with 4.4 seconds left. Even worse, the Buckeyes ran a play at the end of the game that looked like they hadn't practiced all year long.
Jake Diebler has had issues closing out games in his coaching career. It looked like that had turned a corner after the WVU win. That's clearly not the case. This team continues to look ill-prepared in late-game situations. It's looking more and more like the Buckeyes will once again miss the NCAA Tournament.
Ohio State is now finished playing non-conference games until postseason play, if they even get the chance to play in the postseason.