by Ohio State stunned No. 4 Kentucky with an 85-65 victory in the CBS Sports Classic at Madison Square Garden on Saturday. Behind standout performances from Bruce Thornton and John Mobley Jr., the Buckeyes delivered first-year head coach Jake Diebler the signature win of his tenure, moving to 8-4 on the season.
Game Recap
The Buckeyes built a 39-30 halftime lead and never relinquished control. They weathered multiple second-half runs from the Wildcats, maintaining composure to secure the upset. Thornton was unstoppable, scoring a game-high 30 points while showcasing his leadership and poise in critical moments. Mobley Jr. added 15 points, while Aaron Bradshaw chipped in 11 points in a meaningful performance against his former team.
Bradshaw, a former five-star prospect, transferred to Ohio State after one season at Kentucky under head coach John Calipari. He played with purpose, scoring efficiently and helping the Buckeyes dominate in the paint.
Kentucky’s Struggles
Kentucky guard Otega Oweh led the Wildcats with 21 points but struggled from the field, shooting just 4-for-12. He was perfect at the free-throw line, going 13-for-13, but the lack of scoring support hindered Kentucky’s chances. Only Andrew Carr (12 points) and Jaxson Robinson (10 points) joined Oweh in double figures, highlighting the Wildcats’ offensive woes.
The Wildcats’ last lead came with just under nine minutes left in the first half. After a back-and-forth opening stretch that featured eight lead changes and two ties, Ohio State settled into a rhythm and controlled the rest of the game.
Turning Point
Ohio State’s ability to execute on both ends of the floor midway through the first half shifted momentum permanently. Thornton’s clutch shooting and Bradshaw’s inside presence sparked a 9-0 run that silenced Kentucky’s attempts to regain the lead.
Postgame Reactions
“This was a big moment for our program,” Diebler said. “We’ve talked about growth and belief, and tonight, we put it all together against a great team.”
Kentucky head coach Mark Pope, who took over the program this season, admitted his team’s shortcomings. “We didn’t play up to our standard tonight. Credit to Ohio State—they executed and outworked us when it mattered most.”
What’s Next?
Ohio State will look to carry this momentum into Big Ten play, while Kentucky, now 10-2, will aim to bounce back and address their consistency issues before diving deeper into SEC competition.
For Ohio State fans, this win serves as a statement that the program is heading in the right direction under Diebler. For Kentucky, it’s a wake-up call as they seek to meet the high expectations of the Mark Pope era.
