Ohio State’s Bruce Thornton sets the all-time scoring record (Photo by Ohio State Athletics)
Bruce Thornton and the Ohio State Buckeyes finished the regular season with momentum!
Ohio State 91, Indiana 78
The Ohio State Buckeyes basketball team had a cathartic finish to their regular season on Saturday against Indiana. A lot of good happened in the 31st game of Ohio State’s 2025-2026 season. Ohio State got their 20th win of the season on Senior Night in Columbus. Ohio State senior legend Bruce Thornton had 25 points and was backed up by solid games from John Mobley Jr. and Amare Bynum. Mobley and Bynum each had 18 points.
Ohio State moved to 20-11 on the season with the win. It is the Buckeyes’ first 20-win regular season since 2019-2020. This is only the third time in the past ten seasons that the Buckeyes have reached that mark in the regular season. OSU likely also clinched their first NCAA Tournament berth since 2022, four years ago. It’s also the first time Ohio State has gotten to 12 Big Ten wins since 2022. That means Buckeye great Bruce Thornton will get to the big dance for the first time in his illustrious career.
Bruce Thornton
Thornton, the four-year starter and four-year captain, led his team to the win against Indiana. With it, he likely punched his ticket to his first and last NCAA Tournament. #2 has been the granite foundation of Ohio State basketball this decade. In the era of NIL and the transfer portal, Thornton has stayed loyal to Ohio State through four seasons of tumult for the men’s basketball program. It’s great that he is finally rewarded with March Madness.
Bruce Thornton also etched his name into the Ohio State record books. He became Ohio State’s all-time leading scorer, and it’s only fitting that the most loyal of all Buckeyes own that record. Thornton broke the 39-year old record held by Dennis Hopson. Hopson had 2,096 points in his Ohio State career, and Thornton now has 2,110.
If there is any doubt about the selfless player Thornton is, his name is also in the record books of Ohio State for having the third-most assists all-time. Thornton’s 528 assists are tied with Shannon Scott for third, and he likely will have the entire possession of that slot before he’s done.
The Big Ten Tournament
While most agree that Operation Get Bruce to March Madness is already a success, a good showing in the Big Ten Tournament would remove all doubt. The winner of Maryland vs. Oregon will play Iowa for the slot to play against the Buckeyes. A win there would put the Buckeyes at 21-11, and they’d then play that team up north in the Big Ten quarterfinals.
Despite his Herculean efforts, Bruce Thornton can’t do it all and carry Ohio State all the time. The good news is he’s been getting help. In their last five wins, freshman and rising star Amare Bynum has averaged 14 points and 5.8 rebounds per game. In those same five wins, John Mobley Jr. has averaged 19 points, 2.8 assists, and 2.8 rebounds per game. Devin Royal has 14 points and 6.8 rebounds in that stretch, too. When these three back up Thornton, the Buckeyes are dangerous.
Ohio State will take the court in Chicago on Thursday. Follow me here and on social media for more Buckeye content!
