Bruce Thornton hits late winner as Ohio State rallies to beat No. 18 Maryland 73-70

Bruce Thornton banked in a 3-pointer from the right wing with 7.4 seconds left and Ohio State overcame a 17-point deficit to beat No. 18 Maryland 73-70 on Thursday night
Ohio State guard Bruce Thornton (2) goes to the basket past Maryland guard DeShawn Harris-Smith (5) in the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Thursday, Feb. 6, 2025, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

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Ohio State guard Bruce Thornton (2) goes to the basket past Maryland guard DeShawn Harris-Smith (5) in the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Thursday, Feb. 6, 2025, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Bruce Thornton banked in a 3-pointer from the right wing with 7.4 seconds left and Ohio State overcame a 17-point deficit to beat No. 18 Maryland 73-70 on Thursday night.

Thornton had 31 points, six assists and five rebounds for the Buckeyes (14-9, 6-6 Big Ten). Micah Parrish added 13 points and six rebounds.

Julian Reese had 24 points and 13 rebounds for Maryland (17-6, 7-5). Rodney Rice added 18 points, and Derik Queen had 13. The Terrapins had won four straight.

Takeaways

Maryland: The Terrapins seemed headed to their seventh win in their last eight games. But after shooting 59% in the first half, they shot 25% in the second.

Ohio State: The Buckeyes need every win they can get to improve their NCAA resume, and this Quad 1 would certainly qualify. Ohio State played without 7-foot-1 center Aaron Bradshaw, who was out with illness. This was a reversal from the Dec. 4 meeting in the Big Ten opener, when Maryland led by 40 points in an 83-59 victory.

Key moment

After Maryland’s Ja’Kobi Gillespie tied it at 70 on a drive with 35.5 seconds left, Thornton patiently held the ball and made the winner.

Key stat

Thornton had 17 of his points in the final seven minutes as the Buckeyes outscored the Terrapins 23-9 in that stretch.

Up next

Both teams play Sunday. Maryland hosts Rutgers, and Ohio State is at Nebraska.

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Maryland's Julian Reese, left, reaches for the ball with Ohio State's Micah Parrish, center, and Bruce Thornton, right, in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Thursday, Feb. 6, 2025, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

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Maryland guard Jay Young (8) defends as Ohio State guard Ques Glover (6) shoots in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Thursday, Feb. 6, 2025, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

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From left to right, Ohio State's Devin Royal, Maryland's Derik Queen, Maryland's Julian Reese and Ohio State's Sean Stewart reach for the ball in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Thursday, Feb. 6, 2025, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

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Maryland forward Julian Reese (10) looks to shoot between Ohio State forward Sean Stewart (13) and guard Evan Mahaffey, right, in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Thursday, Feb. 6, 2025, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

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Maryland guard Ja'Kobi Gillespie (0) goes to the basket between Ohio State forward Sean Stewart (13) and guard Bruce Thornton, right, in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Thursday, Feb. 6, 2025, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

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Maryland center Derik Queen (25) shoots in front of Ohio State forward Devin Royal (21) in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Thursday, Feb. 6, 2025, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

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Maryland guard Selton Miguel (9) looks to shoot as Ohio State guard John Mobley Jr. (0) defends in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Thursday, Feb. 6, 2025, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

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Maryland center Derik Queen (25) loses the ball in front of Ohio State guards Micah Parrish, center, and Evan Mahaffey (12) in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Thursday, Feb. 6, 2025, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

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Maryland guard Rodney Rice (1) shoots over Ohio State center Ivan Njegovan (17) in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Thursday, Feb. 6, 2025, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

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Maryland head coach Kevin Willard gestures in the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Ohio State Thursday, Feb. 6, 2025, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

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Ohio State guard Micah Parrish (8) shoots over Maryland guard Selton Miguel, center, in the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Thursday, Feb. 6, 2025, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

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