Ohio State falls short 91-88 to Illinois in Big Ten Championship OT thriller
INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana (WCMH) — Ohio State’s bid for its first Big Ten Championship since 2013 fell just short as the Buckeyes lost 91-88 to Illinois in an overtime thriller on Sunday.
The Buckeyes committed two unforced turnovers in the final 75 seconds of the game forcing OSU to foul Illinois. The Fighting Illini sealed the game from the free throw line to win the Big Ten title.
Despite the loss, Ohio State improved its tournament seeding with wins over Minnesota, No. 20 Purdue and No. 4 Michigan to reach the title game. Prior to the conference tournament, OSU lost four games in a row to end the regular season.
Duane Washington put on a stellar performance with 32 points on 12-of-20 shooting.
Ohio State overcame two separate double-digit deficits to force the overtime.
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA – MARCH 14: Jacob Grandison #3 of the Illinois Fighting Illini and Duane Washington Jr. #4 of the Ohio State Buckeyes jump for a lose ball during the first half of the Big Ten Basketball Tournament championship at Lucas Oil Stadium on March 14, 2021 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA – MARCH 14: Duane Washington Jr. #4 of the Ohio State Buckeyes takes a shot over Kofi Cockburn #21 of the Illinois Fighting Illini during the first half of the Big Ten Basketball Tournament championship at Lucas Oil Stadium on March 14, 2021 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA – MARCH 14: CJ Walker #13 of the Ohio State Buckeyes takes a shot over Jacob Grandison #3 of the Illinois Fighting Illini during the first half of the Big Ten Basketball Tournament championship at Lucas Oil Stadium on March 14, 2021 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA – MARCH 14: Justice Sueing #14 of the Ohio State Buckeyes is guarded by Da’Monte Williams #20 and Zach Griffith #4 of the Illinois Fighting Illini during the first half of the Big Ten Basketball Tournament championship at Lucas Oil Stadium on March 14, 2021 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA – MARCH 14: Duane Washington Jr. #4 of the Ohio State Buckeyes passes the ball in the game against the Illinois Fighting Illini during the first half of the Big Ten Basketball Tournament championship at Lucas Oil Stadium on March 14, 2021 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA – MARCH 14: The Illinois Fighting Illini and Ohio State Buckeyes huddle up after a play during the first half of the Big Ten Basketball Tournament championship at Lucas Oil Stadium on March 14, 2021 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA – MARCH 14: E.J. Liddell #32 of the Ohio State Buckeyes goes up for the rebound in the game against the Illinois Fighting Illini during the first half of the Big Ten Basketball Tournament championship at Lucas Oil Stadium on March 14, 2021 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA – MARCH 14: Justice Sueing #14 of the Ohio State Buckeyes and Trent Frazier #1 of the Illinois Fighting Illini fight for the rebound during the first half of the Big Ten Basketball Tournament championship at Lucas Oil Stadium on March 14, 2021 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA – MARCH 14: The Ohio State Buckeyes huddle up before the game against the Illinois Fighting Illini at Lucas Oil Stadium on March 14, 2021 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images)
1 / 9
The Buckeyes trailed by as many as 17 points in the first half but ripped off a 19-9 run to pull within five points at halftime. The Buckeyes made it a two-point game with just under 15 minutes left, but Illinois responded with a 10-1 run to take a 59-49 lead.
Once again, Ohio State wouldn’t go away as Duane Washington, Justice Sueing and CJ Walker pulled the Buckeyes within one point with just under eight minutes to play.
OSU tied the game with six minutes left and took its first lead with 5:36 left in the game. The Buckeyes and Fighting Illini traded baskets during the last five minutes of regulation to send the game into OT.
Ohio State will find out its tournament seeding within the hour.
