Ohio State Buckeyes Edge Past Penn State Nittany Lions
Monday, January 26, 2026, 7:00 PM ET · Schottenstein Center
Ohio State Buckeyes 84, Penn State Nittany Lions 78, 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 Penn State Nittany Lions vs Ohio State Buckeyes?
Ohio State Buckeyes beat Penn State Nittany Lions 84-78 at Schottenstein Center on January 26, 2026.
Who was favored in Penn State Nittany Lions vs Ohio State Buckeyes?
Ohio State Buckeyes were the favorite at DraftKings, moneyline -850 (about 89% implied). The favorite won.
In a closely contested matchup, the Ohio State Buckeyes triumphed over the Penn State Nittany Lions with a final score of 84-78 at the Schottenstein Center. This victory marks an important win for Ohio State, improving their home record to 15-6 and showcasing their resilience after a recent loss to the Michigan Wolverines just days prior. The Buckeyes have demonstrated a strong scoring average of 77.3 points over their last ten games, despite a recent struggle reflected in their last game against Michigan where they lost 62-74.
On the other hand, the Nittany Lions continued their challenging season, extending their losing streak to six games. They have struggled significantly, with a record of 1-9 over their last ten games and an average of just 70.6 points scored against an average of 84.1 points allowed. Their recent form includes a heavy defeat against the Wisconsin Badgers, where they lost 71-98, highlighting their defensive vulnerabilities.
Ohio State's performance at home has been notably better than Penn State's away record. The Buckeyes have a home record of 10-3 this season, while the Nittany Lions have struggled on the road, managing only one win in their last six away games. This trend continued as Ohio State capitalized on their home advantage in this matchup.
In their previous meeting earlier in the season, Ohio State defeated Penn State decisively with a score of 83-64, further emphasizing the Buckeyes' dominance in this rivalry. The Buckeyes' ability to maintain control in both matchups showcases their strength against the Nittany Lions.
In terms of injuries, the block did not specify any key players missing from either team, allowing both squads to compete at full strength. This absence of injury concerns may have contributed to the competitive nature of the game.
The betting market, as provided by DraftKings, had Ohio State favored by 11.5 points, with a total set at 153.5. The odds indicated a strong belief in Ohio State's ability to secure the win, reflected in their moneyline of -850. Conversely, Penn State's moneyline was set at 575, indicating they were viewed as significant underdogs.
The conditions during the game were not detailed in the block, but the atmosphere at the Schottenstein Center was likely charged, typical of a home game for Ohio State. Fans were treated to a thrilling contest, with key moments including a series of scoring plays that kept the game competitive until the final minutes.
Key moments in the second half included a step-back jumper by John Mobley Jr. that brought the Nittany Lions within nine points, followed by a layup from Josh Reed that further narrowed the gap. However, Ohio State maintained their composure, with Taison Chatman and Mobley Jr. converting crucial free throws that ultimately sealed the game for the Buckeyes. Despite a late push by Penn State, which included a tip-in layup from Ivan Juric, Ohio State’s lead proved insurmountable.
Overall, this matchup highlighted the contrasting trajectories of both programs this season, with Ohio State continuing to assert themselves as a formidable force in the NCAAB landscape while Penn State seeks to regroup and find a way to break their losing streak.
Odds
| Book | Spread | Total | Moneyline |
|---|---|---|---|
| DraftKings | OSU -11.5 | 153.5 o -105 / u -115 | Penn State Nittany Lions +575 · Ohio State Buckeyes -850 |
Leaders
- PointsJohn Mobley Jr.25Ohio State Buckeyes
- AssistsJohn Mobley Jr.5Ohio State Buckeyes
- ReboundsAmare Bynum5Ohio State Buckeyes
- PointsEli Rice20Penn State Nittany Lions
- AssistsKayden Mingo8Penn State Nittany Lions
- ReboundsIvan Juric14Penn State Nittany Lions
Recent form
Ohio State Buckeyes
Last 10: 6-4Streak L177.3 scored · 73.2 allowed per game4-2 at home
- L62-74at Michigan WolverinesJan 24
- W82-74vs Minnesota Golden GophersJan 20
- 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
Penn State Nittany Lions
Last 10: 1-9Streak L670.6 scored · 84.1 allowed per game0-3 away
- L71-98vs Wisconsin BadgersJan 23
- L73-96at Maryland TerrapinsJan 18
- L60-71vs UCLA BruinsJan 15
- L85-93at Purdue BoilermakersJan 10
- L72-74vs Michigan WolverinesJan 7
- L65-73vs Illinois Fighting IlliniJan 4
- W90-67vs North Carolina Central EaglesDec 29
- L46-80vs Pittsburgh PanthersDec 21
- L72-76vs Michigan State SpartansDec 13
- L72-113at Indiana HoosiersDec 10
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 | Penn State Nittany Lions | Ohio State Buckeyes |
|---|---|---|
| Field goals | 25-50 | 30-54 |
| Field goal % | 50 | 56 |
| Three-pointers | 10-25 | 8-23 |
| Three-point % | 40 | 35 |
| Free throws | 18-21 | 16-21 |
| Free throw % | 86 | 76 |
| Rebounds | 31 | 21 |
| Offensive rebounds | 9 | 5 |
| Defensive rebounds | 22 | 16 |
| Assists | 12 | 14 |
| Steals | 3 | 9 |
| Blocks | 2 | 2 |
| Turnovers | 18 | 9 |
| Team turnovers | 2 | 0 |
| Technical fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Technical fouls, total | 0 | 0 |
| Flagrant fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Points off turnovers | 11 | 12 |
| Fast-break points | 4 | 5 |
| Points in the paint | 24 | 34 |
| Fouls | 19 | 19 |
| Largest lead | 1 | 18 |
| Lead changes | 2 | 2 |
| Time in front | 3 | 96 |
How the scoring went
- 2nd Half42-54Dominick Stewart makes 25-foot three point jumper (Kayden Mingo assists)
- 2nd Half44-54Ivan Juric makes 1-foot dunk (Kayden Mingo assists)
- 2nd Half44-55Ivan Njegovan makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half44-56Ivan Njegovan makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half46-56Freddie Dilione V makes driving layup
- 2nd Half46-58Ivan Njegovan makes 10-foot floating jump shot (John Mobley Jr. assists)
- 2nd Half49-58Eli Rice makes 26-foot three point step back jumpshot (Freddie Dilione V assists)
- 2nd Half51-58Freddie Dilione V makes driving layup
- 2nd Half54-58Eli Rice makes 25-foot three point jumper (Freddie Dilione V assists)
- 2nd Half54-60Bruce Thornton makes driving layup
- 2nd Half55-60Ivan Juric makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half56-60Ivan Juric makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half58-60Josh Reed makes 7-foot step back jumpshot
- 2nd Half59-60Josh Reed makes free throw 1 of 1
- 2nd Half59-61John Mobley Jr. makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half59-62John Mobley Jr. makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half59-65John Mobley Jr. makes 26-foot three point step back jumpshot
- 2nd Half61-65Melih Tunca makes 8-foot floating jump shot
- 2nd Half61-67Bruce Thornton makes 6-foot jumper (Taison Chatman assists)
- 2nd Half61-68Devin Royal makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half61-69Devin Royal makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half63-69Melih Tunca makes 17-foot turnaround jump shot
- 2nd Half63-70Devin Royal makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half63-71Devin Royal makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half63-74John Mobley Jr. makes 25-foot three point jumper (Amare Bynum assists)
- 2nd Half66-74Melih Tunca makes 26-foot three point jumper (Kayden Mingo assists)
- 2nd Half67-74Ivan Juric makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half67-76Amare Bynum makes 1-foot alley oop dunk (Bruce Thornton assists)
- 2nd Half69-76Melih Tunca makes layup (Kayden Mingo assists)
- 2nd Half69-78Taison Chatman makes 12-foot jumper
- 2nd Half70-78Melih Tunca makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half71-78Melih Tunca makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half71-80John Mobley Jr. makes 21-foot step back jumpshot
- 2nd Half73-80Josh Reed makes layup
- 2nd Half76-80Eli Rice makes 23-foot three point jumper (Melih Tunca assists)
- 2nd Half76-81John Mobley Jr. makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half76-82John Mobley Jr. makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half76-83Taison Chatman makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half76-84Taison Chatman makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half78-84Ivan Juric makes 0-foot tip in layup
Win probability
Above the line favours Ohio State Buckeyes, below favours Penn State Nittany Lions.
Venue
- Schottenstein CenterColumbus, OH
- Attendance10358
- OfficialsBert Smith, Brian Dorsey, Jeffrey Anderson
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