COLUMBUS, Ohio — Jamison Battle scored a season-high 32 points, Roddy Gayle Jr. had 16 points and 10 rebounds, leading a short-handed Ohio State to a 78-69 victory over Nebraska on Thursday night.
Ohio State’s victory marked their third win in four games under interim coach Jake Diebler, who took over from Chris Holtmann earlier this month amidst disappointing seasons.
Battle sealed the win with six consecutive points during a 9-0 run, giving Ohio State a 39-35 lead with 51 seconds remaining in the first half.
Despite a late surge from Nebraska to get within 69-67 with just under four minutes left, they failed to score again until Sam Hoiberg’s layup with 20.2 seconds remaining. Ohio State then went on a nine-point run to secure the victory.
Battle shot 9 of 18 from the field and was perfect at the free-throw line, finishing with his highest point total since March 3, 2022, when he scored 39 for Minnesota. Ohio State also dominated from the free-throw line, going 24 of 28 compared to Nebraska’s eight attempts.
Devin Royal contributed 13 points for Ohio State, who played without leading scorer Bruce Thornton due to a migraine. Jamarques Lawrence and Rienk Mast each scored 14 points for Nebraska, with Mast also pulling down 12 rebounds. Keisei Tominaga was held to nine points on 3-of-12 shooting.
Ohio State will face Michigan on Sunday while Nebraska returns home to play Rutgers on the same day.