Minnesota Gophers center Treyton Thompson (42) can’t stop Ohio State forward Zed Key (23) during the second half of a NCAA Men’s basketball game at Williams Arena in Minneapolis on Thursday, January 27, 2022. Ohio State beat the Gophers, 75 -64. (John Autey/Pioneer Press)
Minnesota Gophers forward Danny Ogele (22) loses the ball to Ohio State guard Eugene Brown III (3) during the first half of a NCAA Men’s basketball game at Williams Arena in Minneapolis on Thursday, January 27, 2022. (John Autey / Pioneer Press )
Minnesota Gophers guard Payton Willis (0) drives around Ohio State guard Malaki Branham (22) during the first half of a NCAA Men’s basketball game at Williams Arena in Minneapolis on Thursday, January 27, 2022. (John Autey / Pioneer Press)
Minnesota Gophers center Treyton Thompson (42) signals three after he hit a three point basket from the top of the arch against Ohio State during the first half of a NCAA Men’s basketball game at Williams Arena in Minneapolis on Thursday, January 27, 2022. ( John Autey / Pioneer Press)
Minnesota Gophers guard Payton Willis (0) drives to the basket against Ohio State forward Zed Key (23) during the first half of a NCAA Men’s basketball game at Williams Arena in Minneapolis on Thursday, January 27, 2022. (John Autey / Pioneer Press )
Minnesota Gophers guard EJ Stephens (20) points to the sky after hitting a three-point basket against Ohio State during the first half of a NCAA Men’s basketball game at Williams Arena in Minneapolis on Thursday, January 27, 2022. (John Autey / Pioneer press)
Minnesota Gophers guard EJ Stephens (20) shoot a three-point basket against Ohio State during the first half of a NCAA Men’s basketball game at Williams Arena in Minneapolis on Thursday, January 27, 2022. (John Autey / Pioneer Press)
Minnesota Gophers center Treyton Thompson (42) is fouled by Ohio State guard Meechie Johnson Jr. (0) on this play under the basket during the first half of a NCAA Men’s basketball game at Williams Arena in Minneapolis on Thursday, January 27, 2022. (John Autey / Pioneer Press)
Minnesota Gophers guard Payton Willis (0) hits a layup against Ohio State during the first half of a NCAA Men’s basketball game at Williams Arena in Minneapolis on Thursday, January 27, 2022. (John Autey / Pioneer Press)
Minnesota Gophers guard Sean Sutherlin (24) drives into the paint against Ohio State during the first half of a NCAA Men’s basketball game at Williams Arena in Minneapolis on Thursday, January 27, 2022. (John Autey / Pioneer Press)
Minnesota Gophers forward Jamison Battle (10) drives to the basket against Ohio State guard Meechie Johnson Jr. (0) during the first half of a NCAA Men’s basketball game at Williams Arena in Minneapolis on Thursday, January 27, 2022. (John Autey / Pioneer Press)
Minnesota Gophers forward Charlie Daniels (15) puts the rebound back up and in against Ohio State during the first half of a NCAA Men’s basketball game at Williams Arena in Minneapolis on Thursday, January 27, 2022. (John Autey / Pioneer Press)
Minnesota Gophers forward Jamison Battle (10) signals three after hitting a three point shot against Ohio State during the second half of a NCAA Men’s basketball game at Williams Arena in Minneapolis on Thursday, January 27, 2022. Ohio State beat the Gophers, 75- 64. (John Autey/Pioneer Press)
Minnesota Gophers guard Payton Willis (0) tries to rally his team as they play Ohio State early in during the second half of a NCAA Men’s basketball game at Williams Arena in Minneapolis on Thursday, January 27, 2022. Ohio State beat the Gophers, 75 -64. (John Autey/Pioneer Press)
Minnesota Gophers guard Payton Willis (0) rests for a second late in the second half of a NCAA Men’s basketball game at Williams Arena in Minneapolis on Thursday, January 27, 2022. Ohio State beat the Gophers, 75-64. (John Autey/Pioneer Press)
Minnesota Gophers head coach Ben Johnson motions “kicked ball” as the Gophers take on Ohio State during the second half of a NCAA Men’s basketball game at Williams Arena in Minneapolis on Thursday, January 27, 2022. Ohio State beat the Gophers, 75-64 . (John Autey/Pioneer Press)
Minnesota Gophers head coach Ben Johnson shouts instruction to his team as they play Ohio State during the second half of a NCAA Men’s basketball game at Williams Arena in Minneapolis on Thursday, January 27, 2022. Ohio State beat the Gophers, 75-64. (John Autey/Pioneer Press)
The first half between the Gophers and Ohio State on Thursday went down like a pleasant aperitif. In the second half, however, Minnesota ate glass.
The underdog Gophers went blow for blow with No. 16 Ohio State and trailed only 32-30 at the break. With 11 lead changes and four ties, it looked like Minnesota would nourish fans to a consecutive thriller akin to the 68-65 win over Rutgers on Saturday.
But a hefty disadvantage in rebounding – err, on the glass – continued to stack up and led to a big margin in second-chance points to propel the Buckeyes’ 75-64 win at Williams Arena.
Ohio State’s bigger size and strength was the primary separator in the second half, while an already thin Minnesota frontcourt had its best post player, Eric Curry, out injured. Then backup center Charlie Daniels got in foul trouble and true freshman Treyton Thompson had to do more.
The Buckeyes outrebounded the Gophers 48-22 and had a huge 27-6 advantage in second-chance points.
“I think that was everything, really,” Gophers head coach Ben Johnson said. “It didn’t matter what lineup we had in there—just could not find a way to get the ball.”
Ohio State, a five-point favorite, improved to 13-4 and 6-2 in the Big Ten, and Minnesota fell to 11-6, 2-6. The U has lost five of six Big Ten games to start 2022.
The Buckeyes boast a bruising lineup of 6-foot-7 EJ Liddell and Kyle Young and Zed Key, both 6-8. They were the force, combining for 49 points and 19 rebounds.
“Those guys are some beasts,” Johnson said. “There’s a reason why they are the 16th team in the country. … I told (my players) before the game: ‘This is going to be the most physical team probably that we have played to date.’ ”
Even with the biggest Barnyard student section of the season, Minnesota’s hopes coming out of the half were soon dashed. They surrendered a 3-pointer to Justin Ahrens on the first possession of the second half and a 3-point play by Liddell. Ohio State didn’t look back.
Liddell had got off to a slow start, missing three of his first four shots, but made 3 of 4 to finish the opening 20 minutes with nine points. He eclipsed 1,000 career points in the second half and finished with 23 points and a career-high 15 rebounds.
Jamison Battle, the U’s leading scorer at 18 points per game, returned after a one-game absence due to a non-COVID-19 illness. He missed his first six shots and finished the first half 1 for 9 from the field. He was slightly better in the second half and finished with a team-high 15 points.
“Fatigue was a factor, but I think that is an excuse for how I played,” Battle said. “I feel like there was still a lot more I could have done regardless of being fatigued. You got to go out there and bring energy, and I felt like I was lacking in that (Thursday). I got to respond next game.”
The Gophers play Wisconsin in Madison at noon Sunday.
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