Scarlet Sunrise: Bruce Thornton was cleared to return after injury scare vs. New Orleans

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Bruce Thornton was cleared to return after injury scare vs. New Orleans

It looks like Bruce Thornton will be OK.

The star Ohio State point guard went down with an apparent left foot injury in the second half Thursday night against New Orleans. After driving to the cup and getting fouled on his way up to the rim, he fell to the ground and immediately grabbed his left foot in pain.

Thornton remained on the floor on his side. First his teammates stood near him with concern, then the Ohio State trainers trotted out to attend to him. Thornton eventually sat up. He was able to walk off on his own power before heading to the locker room, where he was further evaluated.

Soon enough, however, Thornton came back out to the bench, where he stayed the rest of the game, which was already in hand. When Thornton’s injury scare happened, the Buckeyes were ahead, 44-23, with 13:03 left.

Had they needed him, he could have returned, according to acting head coach Jake Diebler, who was filling in for an under-the-weather Chris Holtmann.

“Bruce was actually cleared to go back into the game at that point in time,” Diebler said postgame. “We just didn’t feel like it was the best thing to do.

“Outside of that, don’t have a lot of other details. But he was cleared to go back in.”

That’s good news for Ohio State and its best player. Thornton still clocked out with 11 points, two rebounds and two assists. He leads the team with 17.4 points per game, good for eighth in the Big Ten. Perhaps more notably, he’s fourth nationally with a 4.70 assist-to-turnover ratio.

Even in Thornton’s absence — as well as the absence of starting center Felix Okpara, who, like Holtmann, was also out sick — the Buckeyes created ample distance between themselves and New Orleans. After the Privateers briefly took a 15-14 lead in the opening frame, Ohio State outscored New Orleans, 64-21, starting with a 17-2 run to end the first half.

Buckeyes pick up the pace, blow by New Orleans after sloppy start

Initially, it looked as if Ohio State was in for another rock fight, less than a week removed from its hard-fought win over UCLA in the CBS Sports Classic.

This time around, though, the Buckeyes were facing a New Orleans team that came into the night allowing north of 76 points per game and posting a 1-6 record versus Division I teams this season.

Despite missing both head coach Chris Holtmann and starting center Felix Okpara — both of whom were out with illness — Ohio State got things in order under acting head coach Jake Diebler by halftime.

Then the Buckeyes blew the game open in the second half. Four different players reached double figures, namely Jamison Battle, who put up a 17-9-4 stat line.

For the full story, go here.

Five Ohio State football signees who could make instant impact next season

Every Ohio State signee accepts the challenge that is making a name for yourself in the sea of talent that lines the Buckeyes’ roster annually.

But every year there are true freshmen who find their way onto the field at Ohio State and make an impact. Lettermen Row broke down five Buckeyes signees who could accomplish that feat in 2024.

Find out who they are here.

MORE NATIONAL SIGNING DAY CONTENT…

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• In-state analysis: Where Ohio State hit big recruiting in the 2024 cycle
• National Signing Day Superlatives: Ohio State class of 2024 offense
• National Signing Day Superlatives: Ohio State class of 2024 defense

Transfer tracker: Breaking down Buckeyes moves, philosophy in transfer portal

Having trouble keeping track of all of Ohio State’s transfer portal departures?

Lettermen Row has you covered.

The Buckeyes have seen 14 of their scholarship players hit the portal — including starting quarterback Kyle McCord, starting wide receiver Julian Fleming and key running back Chip Trayanum — and there could be more on the way soon.

Follow along here to stay up to date.

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Counting down

Buckeyes vs. Michigan: 344 days

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