Ohio State Tops Minnesota in Overtime Thriller
Tuesday, January 20, 2026, 6:30 PM ET · Schottenstein Center
Ohio State Buckeyes 82, Minnesota Golden Gophers 74, final. Our NCAAB picks are sealed as a hash before kickoff and settled in public, losses included.
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Quick answers
Who won Minnesota Golden Gophers vs Ohio State Buckeyes?
Ohio State Buckeyes beat Minnesota Golden Gophers 82-74 at Schottenstein Center on January 20, 2026.
Who was favored in Minnesota Golden Gophers vs Ohio State Buckeyes?
Ohio State Buckeyes were the favorite at DraftKings, moneyline -395 (about 80% implied). The favorite won.
In a gripping overtime showdown, the Ohio State Buckeyes defeated the Minnesota Golden Gophers 82-74 at the Schottenstein Center. This victory marks a significant moment for Ohio State, who improved their home record to 14-5, while Minnesota fell to 10-10 overall. The game showcased the resilience of both teams, with Ohio State managing to secure the win after a tightly contested regulation period.
Ohio State entered the game with a recent form of 6-4 over their last ten games, including a win against UCLA on January 17, where they scored 86 points. Their scoring average during this stretch was 79.5 points per game, while they allowed an average of 75.4 points. The Buckeyes have shown a mixed performance at home, with a home record of 3-3 in their last six games, but they have been more successful in away matches, going 3-1.
On the other hand, Minnesota's recent form has been less favorable, as they have lost their last three games, bringing their record to 6-4 over the last ten. Their scoring average during this period was 72.2 points per game, with an average of 66.5 points allowed. The Golden Gophers have struggled particularly on the road, with a 1-2 record in away games recently, contrasting with a solid 5-2 home record.
The two teams had previously met on January 7, 2025, where Ohio State edged out Minnesota with a narrow 89-88 victory. This latest encounter continued the trend of closely contested games between the two programs.
In terms of injuries, the block did not specify any players missing from either team, indicating that both squads were likely at full strength for this important matchup.
Betting lines from DraftKings indicated that Ohio State was favored by 7.5 points, with a total set at 143.5. The odds reflected a strong belief in Ohio State's ability to win, as evidenced by their moneyline of -395 compared to Minnesota's +310.
The game was played under standard indoor basketball conditions, with no adverse weather factors affecting play. Fans could expect a high-paced game, as both teams have shown the ability to score effectively, particularly Ohio State, who averaged 79.5 points in their recent form.
As the game unfolded, Ohio State's Bruce Thornton played a pivotal role, contributing crucial points in overtime, including free throws that helped seal the victory. The Buckeyes' ability to execute under pressure was evident as they outscored Minnesota in the overtime period, showcasing their depth and composure in critical moments.
Overall, this matchup not only highlighted the competitive nature of NCAAB but also emphasized the importance of home-court advantage, as Ohio State managed to leverage their familiar surroundings to secure a hard-fought win.
Odds
| Book | Spread | Total | Moneyline |
|---|---|---|---|
| DraftKings | OSU -7.5 | 143.5 o -115 / u -105 | Minnesota Golden Gophers +310 · Ohio State Buckeyes -395 |
Leaders
- PointsJohn Mobley Jr.26Ohio State Buckeyes
- AssistsBruce Thornton3Ohio State Buckeyes
- ReboundsIvan Njegovan9Ohio State Buckeyes
- PointsJaylen Crocker-Johnson26Minnesota Golden Gophers
- AssistsIsaac Asuma5Minnesota Golden Gophers
- ReboundsJaylen Crocker-Johnson8Minnesota Golden Gophers
Recent form
Ohio State Buckeyes
Last 10: 6-4Streak W179.5 scored · 75.4 allowed per game3-3 at home
- W86-74vs UCLA BruinsJan 17
- L74-81at Washington HuskiesJan 11
- W72-62at Oregon DucksJan 9
- L69-72vs Nebraska CornhuskersJan 5
- W80-73at Rutgers Scarlet KnightsJan 3
- W89-63vs Grambling TigersDec 23
- L70-71vs North Carolina Tar HeelsDec 20
- W89-88vs West Virginia MountaineersDec 14
- L80-88vs Illinois Fighting IlliniDec 10
- W86-82at Northwestern WildcatsDec 6
Minnesota Golden Gophers
Last 10: 6-4Streak L372.2 scored · 66.5 allowed per game1-2 away
- L67-77at Illinois Fighting IlliniJan 17
- L75-78vs Wisconsin BadgersJan 14
- L69-70vs USC TrojansJan 10
- W70-67vs Iowa HawkeyesJan 7
- W84-78at Northwestern WildcatsJan 3
- W60-43vs Fairleigh Dickinson KnightsDec 30
- W78-50vs Campbell Fighting CamelsDec 21
- W89-53vs Texas Southern TigersDec 14
- L57-85at Purdue BoilermakersDec 11
- W73-64vs Indiana HoosiersDec 4
Standings
| Team | Overall | Games behind | In conference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Michigan | 37-3 | - | 19-1 |
| Nebraska | 28-7 | 4 | 15-5 |
| Michigan State | 27-8 | 4 | 15-5 |
| Illinois | 28-9 | 4 | 15-5 |
| Wisconsin | 24-11 | 5 | 14-6 |
| Purdue | 30-9 | 6 | 13-7 |
| UCLA | 24-12 | 6 | 13-7 |
| Ohio State | 21-13 | 7 | 12-8 |
| Iowa | 24-13 | 9 | 10-10 |
| Indiana | 18-14 | 10 | 9-11 |
| Minnesota | 15-18 | 11 | 8-12 |
| USC | 18-14 | 12 | 7-13 |
| Washington | 16-17 | 12 | 7-13 |
| Rutgers | 14-20 | 13 | 6-14 |
| Northwestern | 15-19 | 14 | 5-15 |
| Oregon | 12-20 | 14 | 5-15 |
| Maryland | 12-21 | 15 | 4-16 |
| Penn State | 12-20 | 16 | 3-17 |
Box score
| Stat | Minnesota Golden Gophers | Ohio State Buckeyes |
|---|---|---|
| Field goals | 23-58 | 31-65 |
| Field goal % | 40 | 48 |
| Three-pointers | 8-27 | 7-24 |
| Three-point % | 30 | 29 |
| Free throws | 20-25 | 13-18 |
| Free throw % | 80 | 72 |
| Rebounds | 31 | 42 |
| Offensive rebounds | 9 | 13 |
| Defensive rebounds | 22 | 29 |
| Assists | 13 | 11 |
| Steals | 6 | 6 |
| Blocks | 4 | 3 |
| Turnovers | 9 | 10 |
| Team turnovers | 2 | 0 |
| Technical fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Technical fouls, total | 0 | 0 |
| Flagrant fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Points off turnovers | 15 | 11 |
| Fast-break points | 11 | 4 |
| Points in the paint | 26 | 46 |
| Fouls | 19 | 20 |
| Largest lead | 4 | 11 |
| Lead changes | 18 | 18 |
| Time in front | 17 | 70 |
How the scoring went
- 2nd Half43-46John Mobley Jr. makes 26-foot three point jumper (Bruce Thornton assists)
- 2nd Half44-46Isaac Asuma makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half45-46Isaac Asuma makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half47-46Langston Reynolds makes layup (Cade Tyson assists)
- 2nd Half50-46Isaac Asuma makes 23-foot three point jumper (Langston Reynolds assists)
- 2nd Half50-48Christoph Tilly makes layup (Bruce Thornton assists)
- 2nd Half51-48Isaac Asuma makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half51-51John Mobley Jr. makes 23-foot three point jumper (Colin White assists)
- 2nd Half53-51Jaylen Crocker-Johnson makes driving layup
- 2nd Half53-53Bruce Thornton makes 12-foot floating jump shot
- 2nd Half53-55Devin Royal makes 5-foot floating jump shot (John Mobley Jr. assists)
- 2nd Half55-55Jaylen Crocker-Johnson makes driving layup
- 2nd Half56-55Jaylen Crocker-Johnson makes free throw 1 of 1
- 2nd Half56-57Devin Royal makes 3-foot alley oop dunk (Bruce Thornton assists)
- 2nd Half57-57Cade Tyson makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half58-57Cade Tyson makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half58-59Christoph Tilly makes driving layup
- 2nd Half60-59Jaylen Crocker-Johnson makes driving layup
- 2nd Half60-61John Mobley Jr. makes 8-foot floating jump shot
- 2nd Half62-61Jaylen Crocker-Johnson makes 8-foot floating jump shot
- 2nd Half62-64John Mobley Jr. makes 27-foot three point jumper (Devin Royal assists)
- 2nd Half64-64Cade Tyson makes layup (Langston Reynolds assists)
- 2nd Half65-64Cade Tyson makes free throw 1 of 1
- 2nd Half65-66Bruce Thornton makes 10-foot floating jump shot
- 2nd Half65-67Bruce Thornton makes free throw 1 of 1
- 2nd Half67-67Jaylen Crocker-Johnson makes driving layup
- OT67-69Devin Royal makes 5-foot turnaround jump shot
- OT69-69Jaylen Crocker-Johnson makes 8-foot turnaround jump shot
- OT69-71Devin Royal makes 8-foot pullup jump shot
- OT69-72Devin Royal makes free throw 1 of 1
- OT71-72Grayson Grove makes 0-foot tip in layup
- OT71-74Bruce Thornton makes 7-foot pullup jump shot
- OT71-76Colin White makes driving layup
- OT73-76Jaylen Crocker-Johnson makes layup
- OT73-78Bruce Thornton makes 13-foot pullup jump shot
- OT74-78Grayson Grove makes free throw 2 of 2
- OT74-79Bruce Thornton makes free throw 1 of 2
- OT74-80Bruce Thornton makes free throw 2 of 2
- OT74-81Ivan Njegovan makes free throw 1 of 2
- OT74-82Ivan Njegovan makes free throw 2 of 2
Win probability
Above the line favours Ohio State Buckeyes, below favours Minnesota Golden Gophers.
Venue
- Schottenstein CenterColumbus, OH
- Attendance8750
- OfficialsVerne Harris, Paul Szelc, Randy Richardson
Elsewhere
- Carson Crawford, No. 46 in '27 class, commits to Arizona St.
- Tennessee's Ralph Scott to have knee surgery, out at least 6 months
- Men's NCAA basketball 2026-27 Way-Too-Early Top 25 rankings
- Transfers, recruits and roster moves for key men's NCAA basketball teams
- Michigan 5-star freshman Brandon McCoy Jr. (knee) to miss season
- With $6.5 million left on deal, UCLA fires AD Martin Jarmond