Huskies Defeat Buckeyes 81-74 in Thrilling Matchup
Sunday, January 11, 2026, 6:00 PM ET · Alaska Airlines Arena
Washington Huskies 81, Ohio State Buckeyes 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 Ohio State Buckeyes vs Washington Huskies?
Washington Huskies beat Ohio State Buckeyes 81-74 at Alaska Airlines Arena on January 11, 2026.
Who was favored in Ohio State Buckeyes vs Washington Huskies?
Washington Huskies were the favorite at DraftKings, moneyline -125 (about 56% implied). The favorite won.
In a competitive clash at the Alaska Airlines Arena, the Washington Huskies triumphed over the Ohio State Buckeyes with a final score of 81-74. This victory marks an important moment for the Huskies, who had been struggling with a two-game losing streak prior to this game. The win improves their overall record to 11-6, while the Buckeyes drop to 11-6.
The Huskies entered the game with a home record of 10-6, having gone 5-5 in their last ten games. Their recent form showed a scoring average of 79.9 points per game while allowing 73.6 points. In their last five games, they managed to score an average of 75.8 points but allowed 72.4 points, highlighting some defensive vulnerabilities. The Huskies had previously lost to Purdue and Indiana, but they managed to secure a win against Utah prior to facing Ohio State.
Conversely, the Buckeyes had a slightly better recent record, standing at 11-5 overall and 6-4 in their last ten games. They averaged 81.4 points scored while allowing 72.6 points. Their last five games reflected a scoring average of 76.0 points with an average of 68.2 points allowed. Ohio State was coming off a victory against Oregon, which added to their momentum going into this matchup.
In terms of home and away performance, the Huskies had a home record of 4-1 in their last five home games, while the Buckeyes had a 3-1 record in their last four away games. This fixture was significant as it was a chance for the Huskies to assert themselves at home after struggling in previous outings.
The two teams had met previously on February 13, 2025, where the Huskies lost to the Buckeyes with a score of 69-93. This game was a chance for Washington to avenge that defeat and establish a stronger presence in the league.
Injury-wise, the block did not provide specific details on any players missing from either team, but injuries can often play a crucial role in the dynamics of such matchups. The absence of key players can significantly affect team performance and strategy.
The market had the Huskies favored by 1.5 points, according to DraftKings, with a total set at 155.5. The odds for the game indicated a close contest, reflecting the competitive nature of both teams.
The game conditions were typical for a winter evening in Seattle, with fans filling the arena to support their home team. The atmosphere was charged, and the home-court advantage played a role in the Huskies' performance.
As the game unfolded, key moments included Franck Kepnang making crucial free throws late in the second half, allowing the Huskies to extend their lead. Additionally, Quimari Peterson's free throws solidified the victory as the clock wound down. The Buckeyes fought hard, with Devin Royal hitting a significant three-pointer, but it ultimately wasn't enough to overcome the Huskies' lead.
Overall, this matchup showcased the resilience of the Washington Huskies as they rebounded from recent losses to secure a vital win against the Ohio State Buckeyes.
Odds
| Book | Spread | Total | Moneyline |
|---|---|---|---|
| DraftKings | WASH -1.5 | 155.5 o -115 / u -105 | Ohio State Buckeyes +105 · Washington Huskies -125 |
Leaders
- PointsZoom Diallo22Washington Huskies
- AssistsJJ Mandaquit5Washington Huskies
- ReboundsHannes Steinbach9Washington Huskies
- PointsBruce Thornton28Ohio State Buckeyes
- AssistsJohn Mobley Jr.4Ohio State Buckeyes
- ReboundsDevin Royal8Ohio State Buckeyes
Recent form
Washington Huskies
Last 10: 5-5Streak L279.9 scored · 73.6 allowed per game4-1 at home
- L73-81at Purdue BoilermakersJan 8
- L80-90at Indiana HoosiersJan 5
- W74-65vs Utah UtesDec 30
- W86-56vs San Diego TorerosDec 23
- L66-70at Seattle U RedhawksDec 20
- W105-69vs Southern Utah ThunderbirdsDec 13
- W84-76at USC TrojansDec 6
- L80-82vs UCLA BruinsDec 4
- L68-81at Colorado BuffaloesNov 28
- W83-66vs Nevada Wolf PackNov 27
Ohio State Buckeyes
Last 10: 6-4Streak W181.4 scored · 72.6 allowed per game3-1 away
- 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
- L66-67at Pittsburgh PanthersNov 29
- W113-60vs Mount St. Mary's MountaineersNov 25
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 | Ohio State Buckeyes | Washington Huskies |
|---|---|---|
| Field goals | 27-63 | 28-56 |
| Field goal % | 43 | 50 |
| Three-pointers | 7-22 | 6-18 |
| Three-point % | 32 | 33 |
| Free throws | 13-15 | 19-23 |
| Free throw % | 87 | 83 |
| Rebounds | 39 | 29 |
| Offensive rebounds | 17 | 9 |
| Defensive rebounds | 22 | 20 |
| Assists | 14 | 14 |
| Steals | 4 | 4 |
| Blocks | 3 | 6 |
| Turnovers | 11 | 7 |
| Team turnovers | 1 | 0 |
| Technical fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Technical fouls, total | 0 | 0 |
| Flagrant fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Points off turnovers | 9 | 12 |
| Fast-break points | 3 | 10 |
| Points in the paint | 38 | 40 |
| Fouls | 17 | 14 |
| Largest lead | 9 | 8 |
| Lead changes | 2 | 2 |
| Time in front | 48 | 46 |
How the scoring went
- 2nd Half45-50Zoom Diallo makes 7-foot jumper
- 2nd Half45-52Franck Kepnang makes 10-foot hook shot
- 2nd Half47-52Amare Bynum makes layup (Bruce Thornton assists)
- 2nd Half47-54Hannes Steinbach makes 11-foot jumper (Quimari Peterson assists)
- 2nd Half48-54Bruce Thornton makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half48-55Franck Kepnang makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half49-55Bruce Thornton makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half50-55Bruce Thornton makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half50-56Zoom Diallo makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half50-57Zoom Diallo makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half52-57Amare Bynum makes 1-foot dunk (Bruce Thornton assists)
- 2nd Half52-58Franck Kepnang makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half52-59Franck Kepnang makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half54-59Devin Royal makes layup (Taison Chatman assists)
- 2nd Half54-60JJ Mandaquit makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half57-60Bruce Thornton makes 25-foot three point jumper
- 2nd Half59-60Ivan Njegovan makes layup (Gabe Cupps assists)
- 2nd Half59-63Quimari Peterson makes 25-foot three point jumper (JJ Mandaquit assists)
- 2nd Half59-65Bryson Tucker makes 15-foot pullup jump shot
- 2nd Half60-65Bruce Thornton makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half61-65Bruce Thornton makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half61-66Zoom Diallo makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half61-67Zoom Diallo makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half63-67Bruce Thornton makes 11-foot jumper
- 2nd Half63-69Zoom Diallo makes driving layup
- 2nd Half63-71Hannes Steinbach makes 12-foot turnaround jump shot (JJ Mandaquit assists)
- 2nd Half65-71Bruce Thornton makes driving layup
- 2nd Half66-71Bruce Thornton makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half67-71Bruce Thornton makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half67-73Franck Kepnang makes 1-foot dunk (Quimari Peterson assists)
- 2nd Half67-75Bryson Tucker makes layup (Zoom Diallo assists)
- 2nd Half69-75Amare Bynum makes layup
- 2nd Half69-76Franck Kepnang makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half69-77Franck Kepnang makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half72-77Devin Royal makes 24-foot three point jumper (Bruce Thornton assists)
- 2nd Half72-78Zoom Diallo makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half72-79Zoom Diallo makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half74-79Bruce Thornton makes driving layup
- 2nd Half74-80Quimari Peterson makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half74-81Quimari Peterson makes free throw 2 of 2
Win probability
Above the line favours Washington Huskies, below favours Ohio State Buckeyes.
Venue
- Alaska Airlines ArenaSeattle, WA
- Attendance8163
- OfficialsBrian Dorsey, Paul Szelc, Nate Harris
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