Ohio State Falls to Iowa 77-70, Likely Ends NCAA Tournament Hopes

Ohio State's hopes for an NCAA Tournament berth ended with a 77-70 loss to Iowa in the first round of the Big Ten Tournament. The Buckeyes, who needed a win to improve their chances of making the tournament, struggled offensively despite a strong start, failing to capitalize on Iowa's early scoring drought. Key players for Iowa included Payton Sandfort, Josh Dix, and Brock Harding, while Ohio State's Bruce Thornton led his team with 24 points. The defeat is likely to keep Ohio State out of the postseason, as they were already considered on the bubble before the game. The Buckeyes finished the season with a 17-15 record and a disappointing 9-12 in conference play. This latest loss marks a significant setback for a team that was once in contention for the NCAA Tournament.