In an intense and dramatic contest, the Ohio State Buckeyes secured a hard-fought 86-78 victory over the Iowa Hawkeyes in an overtime thriller on February 17, 2025. However, the win was marred by a concerning trend that has begun to define the Buckeyes’ recent play: the inability to close out games, even after holding a commanding double-digit lead in the fourth quarter.
The game started with Ohio State dominating early. Behind a red-hot start from their star guard, the Buckeyes shot out to a 15-point lead by the middle of the fourth quarter. Their defense was stifling, with Iowa struggling to find any rhythm on offense. However, as the clock wound down, something shifted. The Buckeyes appeared to lose focus, and the Hawkeyes capitalized.
Iowa, led by a gritty performance from their forward, clawed back into the game. The Hawkeyes mounted an incredible 12-2 run, slicing Ohio State’s once-comfortable lead down to just three points with under a minute to play. The Buckeyes seemed rattled, committing a series of uncharacteristic turnovers and taking poor shots in the closing moments. With just seconds left, Iowa’s sharpshooter buried a three-pointer to tie the game at 74-all, sending it to overtime.
This was the second consecutive game in which Ohio State had watched a commanding fourth-quarter lead evaporate into thin air. In their previous matchup, a similar pattern had emerged, with the Buckeyes surrendering a double-digit lead to a resurgent opponent. The collapse in the final moments has raised serious questions about Ohio State’s mental toughness, execution, and ability to handle pressure situations down the stretch. Fans and analysts alike are beginning to voice their concerns, wondering if the team’s championship aspirations are slipping away due to their inability to close out games.
Overtime saw a shift in momentum, but not entirely in the way Ohio State fans might have expected. While the Buckeyes started the extra period with renewed intensity, it was clear the Hawkeyes were not going down without a fight. Iowa continued to apply pressure, but Ohio State, despite their prior lapses, dug deep. A clutch three-pointer from Ohio State’s forward and a series of successful free throws from their point guard helped seal the victory.
However, the troubling trend of blowing sizable leads continues to linger over the Buckeyes’ victory. While the win certainly boosts their tournament hopes, it is a hollow triumph in the sense that the team, for the second straight game, failed to play a full 40 minutes of basketball. Fans are left questioning whether this Ohio State team is truly ready to compete at the highest levels of college basketball or whether their fragility under pressure will doom them in the tournament.
Critics are also starting to ask whether this issue is indicative of a larger systemic problem within the team. Is it poor coaching, a lack of leadership on the floor, or simply a mental block? Whatever the cause, the inability to sustain a lead is becoming a glaring flaw that could come back to haunt them when it matters most.
For now, Ohio State will take the victory, but the lingering doubts will only grow as the season progresses. With more tests ahead, including matchups against higher-ranked opponents, the Buckeyes will need to find a way to navigate the pressures of close games if they are to make a deep run in the NCAA tournament. The big question remains: can they finally learn to close games and avoid blowing another double-digit lead?
