There were multiple viewing options available to certain segments of Ohio State fans on Saturday night, and it felt oddly similar. Buckeye men’s basketball team not only faces West Virginia in Cleveland basketball showdown Gond Arena Quicken Loans Arena Rocket Mortgage Arena, but in the meantime, the final match of John Cena’s storied professional wrestling career was titled “Saturday Night’s Main Event” on NBCUniversal’s streaming service Peacock, and of course I watched both matches.
Jake Diebler’s team looked lethargic and out of sorts for much of the night, but they put things right in the final seconds, coming back from a 16-point deficit to force not one, but two overtimes before defeating the Mountaineers 89-88 in double overtime.
advertise
In the first three quarters of the game, the Buckeyes could not find a field goal percentage. The field goal percentage was as low as 33.3% and the three-point shooting percentage was only 14.3%. OSU’s star player and leader Bruce Thornton struggled in the first 30 minutes, which didn’t help the team’s prospects. With 11:49 left in the game, the Buckeyes star scored just 2 points on 1-for-8 shooting and 0-for-3 from distance. But that changed in the closing stages, with Thornton becoming OSU’s leading scorer with 21 points.
While I don’t watch wrestling as often as I did as a teenager, I wasn’t going to miss this historic event, and I’m glad I did because watching the event at Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C. provided a fascinating addition to the Buckeyes’ comeback attempt. Both events featured impressive performances from young stars and incredible endings that somehow seemed impossible.
For the Buckeyes, first-year Amar’e Bynum and sophomore John Mobley Jr. kept the team in the game, while Thornton struggled early. As noted throughout the game’s telecast, Bynum provided the energy that helped keep the game from getting out of control too early and helped the Buckeyes come back.
advertise
Bynum and Mobley each scored 17 points. Combined with 14 points from first-year Buckeye Christoph Tilley, OSU was able to rely on some lesser-known supporting stars while Thornton addressed his shooting woes.
On the wrestling side of things, the undercard consisted of three matches that pitted WWE’s established stars against up-and-coming stars from that promotion’s developmental division NXT and independent promotion TNA. Cena, who holds the record for the most wishes granted in the charity’s history, has always been known for supporting and promoting young talent, so it was fitting that his final card featured the next generation of superstars.
In the opener, WWE Undisputed Champion Cody Rhodes faced off against NXT Champion Oba Femi. The latter is a 27-year-old former SEC shot put champion from Lagos, Nigeria. Although the match was ultimately ended early due to outside interference from the ever-distressed Drew McIntyre, Fermi not only held his own against “The American Nightmare” but dominated the match in many instances, showcasing his speed and power. The energy and excitement Fermi brought to this game was similar to Bynum stepping up for Diebler’s team in Cleveland.
Meanwhile, on ESPNU, the Buckeyes were still neck and neck with the Niles, but OSU was sloppy through the first 10 minutes. Midway through the first quarter, the game was tied at 16, but OSU had already committed five turnovers, and it was clear that the team’s shots weren’t going as far as they wanted. Fifth-year forward Brandon Noel opened the game by going 1-for-4 from the field and 0-for-2 from beyond the arc in six minutes of play, which led to Diebler calling out Bynum.
advertise
Similar to the first WWE match of the night, the second match pitted WWE’s first Women’s Grand Slam Champion Bayley against NXT’s high-flying Sol Ruca. The 26-year-old former University of Oregon gymnast put her agility on full display against Bailey, executing a handstand hurricanrana, an over-the-top rope backflip, and an impressive Saul Snatcher finisher—a front flip through the air—to defeat the future Hall of Famer.
As the game progressed, WVU went on a 10-2 run over the next five minutes to take a 28-19 lead, but eventually Devin Royal tied the game in added time with 4:28 left in the first half. OSU’s junior was fouled but couldn’t complete an old-fashioned 3-pointer.
West Virginia regained its largest lead of the half at 32-23 with 2:33 left before halftime. However, a nice shot from the middle by Lilly cut WVU’s lead to seven points. From that point on, the ‘Neers turned the ball over and went cold on the field, but OSU’s performance was inconsistent throughout. OSU scored just 13 points in the final nine minutes of the first half, allowing WVU to turn a three-point Buckeye lead into a 10-point deficit.
The Mountaineers couldn’t make a field goal in 6 minutes and 47 seconds against the Buckeyes (they did hit six free throws), but a corner 3-pointer by the Mountaineers with seconds left gave West Virginia a 37-27 halftime lead.
advertise
Two of OSU’s starters, Royal and Mobley, both fouled out in the first half, which meant Diebler had to go deeper on the bench. Eight of the nine Buckeye players who played in the first half were on the scoresheet, with Mobley Jr. scoring eight points on two three-pointers and two free throws. Only Christoph Tilley (1-for-5 shooting, 4 points) and Royal (1-for-3 shooting, 4 points) had more than one goal.
It was an especially tough half for Buckeyes leader Bruce Thornton, who scored just two points on 1-for-6 shooting in 19 minutes of play. Overall, Ohio State shot just 31 percent (9-for-29) from the field and 2-for-12 (16.7 percent) from distance.
In the final minutes of the first half and at halftime, WWE World Tag Team Champions AJ Styles and Dragon Lee faced off against a pair of 21-year-olds, NXT’s Je’Von Evans and TNA’s Leon Slater. The match was filled with impressive moments, but “The Phenomenal” AJ Styles botched a top-rope moment but was still able to take the match home seconds later.
WVU opened the second half on a spectacular alley-oop pass from Brenen Lorient to give the Mountaineers their first 12-point lead of the game. The Buckeyes continued to have chances to get back into the game but missed several chances straight at the back of the net.
advertise
Ohio State was never able to capitalize on its chances, ultimately falling behind by 16 points. With 14:39 left in regulation, WVU hit back-to-back three-pointers to cap off the main event’s pregame celebrations with an 8-0 run that included “Ring General” Gunther and the all-time great John Cena. While just about everyone in the WWE locker room, wrestling legends and celebrities said goodbye to the Never Seen 17 icon, Ohio State is making a comeback.
Bynum had a dunk and WVU missed two free throws, and you could feel the momentum shifting. In the next game, Thornton made a smooth shot, extending the lead to 55-48. Tilley then rushed toward a rabbit and was blocked by WVU, but the referee called a goalie foul. West Virginia coach Ross Hodge’s failed goaltender challenge meant OSU used a 15-4 run to trail only 55-50 after Tilley missed a free throw.
Sensing a shift in momentum, Thornton defended hard and forced a turnover, then on the other side of the country, Royal got his own rebound and put the ball back in the bucket, and the game suddenly became a one-possession affair at 55-52. In the next round, Thornton made a three-pointer and was obviously fouled, but did not receive a penalty.
Then, during a timeout for the Under-8 team, Diebler was whistled for a technical foul for arguing about a blatant no-call. Together with a shared foul, WVU led 58-52.
advertise
Back on Peacock, Gunther took control of the match early, trying to make good on his promise to get Cena knocked out for the first time in his career. However, (perfectly fitting in with the timeout) Cena put Gunther in the announce table with a super attitude adjustment, completely obliterating Michael Cole and Wade Barrett’s spot in the ring.
The basketball game entered a four-under timeout with West Virginia University leading 63-59. Gunther, meanwhile, endured multiple AAs, with the crowd frequently chanting “F**k you, Gunther.” Of course, there’s no way John Cena could end his Mount Rushmore career any other way than with a win, right?
Wrong. After locking in Cena’s sleeper position, the referee dropped Cena’s arm twice before the Peacemaker got back to his feet before a third fall. But Gunther’s brutal elbow strikes took away what little reserves the former champion had, and Cena took advantage of it, ending his 20-plus-year career in front of a shocked (and indeed angry) crowd. But as the WWE locker room emptied out to recognize Cena, a Royal jump shot made it 63-61.
advertise
That didn’t last long, however, as West Virginia’s Honor Huff hit a three-pointer on the ensuing possession. However, Thornton was determined to make his presence known, despite having a rough night. Although he missed two points, Thornton made a layup to chase the score to 66-63. Then, great defense forced their fourth turnover in six minutes and Mobley hit two free throws to tie the game at one with 1:48 left in regulation.
Then, with less than a minute left, Mobley hit a stunning three-pointer at the buzzer to give OSU its first lead since 17-14. However, West Virginia’s Jasper Floyd soon tied the score at 68. Diebler then called a timeout with 24 seconds left. Inexplicably, Mobley took a hasty, contested 3-pointer that didn’t go through. It turned into a WVU fast break, but Mobley returned to defense and drew an offensive foul on Floyd. Thornton got up at the last second but hit the back of the iron to send the game into overtime.
The game was back-and-forth in the five minutes of overtime, but after Bynum’s jumper gave OSU a 76-74 lead, Huff hit a cold-blooded 3-pointer to take the lead 77-76. The Mountaineers then had a chance to tie the game after a Royals turnover, but Huff went out of bounds under the basket, giving the ball back to the Buckeyes with 28 seconds left.
Instead of going for the final shot, Royal attacked the rim, got fouled, and made two free throws to tie the game at 77. After the rebound, West Virginia called a timeout with 15.4 seconds left, setting the stage for the final shot in overtime.
advertise
Huff scored all nine of WVU’s points in overtime, but Circus missed a layup at the last second, sending the game into a second overtime.
Royal picked up his fifth foul with 3:45 left in the second quarter and was on the bench the entire time. From there, the two teams traded baskets until OSU got a dunk from Tilley (thanks to a great drive and pass from Mobley) and a floater from the middle by Thornton to take an 85-83 lead with 52 seconds left.
But after the West Virginia University timeout, Huff double-teamed and found Lorient at the top of the arc for a three-pointer. The Mountaineers regained the lead 86-85. After that, Thornton fouled and made two free throws, giving the Scarlet and Gray the lead again. But, as you’d expect from the heavyweight Guice, Huff made an absolutely insane turnaround and hit a fadeaway jumper over Thornton from the corner to give WVU an 88-87 lead with 12.3 seconds left.
As the officials reviewed whether Huff’s shot was a two-pointer or a three-pointer (the two-point call was confirmed on the court), Diebler drew a ball for Thornton and told him to take it to the floor. The senior got into the lane and was nearly unstoppable in overtime, hitting buckets to the body to help the Buckeyes regain the lead at 89-88.
advertise
After a timeout, West Virginia State took an inbounds pass, but no Mountaineers were able to block it, and Ohio State completed an incredible comeback midway through the second half.
