NEW YORK — Ohio State’s men’s basketball team entered this week at a pivotal point in its season.
The Buckeyes were coming off a 38-point loss to Auburn last weekend, their third defeat in four games. In addition to the on-court struggles, Ohio State announced Tuesday that senior guard Meechie Johnson, who started the first 10 games of the season, was taking a leave of absence for personal reasons.
It was nothing a trip to New York to face red-hot No. 4 Kentucky couldn’t solve, as Ohio State upset the Wildcats, 85-65, in the second game of the CBS Sports Classic at Madison Square Garden on Saturday night.
Ohio State guard Bruce Thornton led the way with 30 points, setting the tone early with continued aggressive drives to the rim and then making big shots in the second half. Kentucky didn’t have an answer for Thornton’s ability to get into the lane and finish in traffic; he had a response every time the Wildcats looked to cut into the lead in the second half.
The Buckeyes, who improved to 8-4, took control late in the first half and Kentucky didn’t get within six points the rest of the game.