In a surprising turn of events, Ohio State's journey in the Big Ten Tournament concluded after just one game as they fell to eighth-seeded Maryland by a score of 82-61. Following a double bye, the top-seeded Buckeyes couldn't secure a victory in their first postseason matchup, resulting in an early exit from the tournament held in Minneapolis.

The tides turned in favor of Maryland during the second quarter, with a dominant 26-13 run that saw them seize control of the game. Holding the lead for the entire second half, the Terrapins dealt a blow to Ohio State's aspirations of securing a No. 1 seed in the upcoming NCAA Tournament.

Shooting and rebounding struggles plagued the Buckeyes throughout the match, as they managed to convert only 35.9% of their field goal attempts. Furthermore, they were outrebounded by a staggering 55-31 margin. Ohio State's guard Jacy Sheldon acknowledged these shortcomings, highlighting the need to improve moving forward.

Maryland's Shyanne Sellers, daughter of former Ohio State men's basketball center Brad Sellers, had a standout performance with 25 points. Jakia Brown-Turner, Brinae Alexander, and Faith Masonius also made significant contributions, tallying 19, 19, and 15 points respectively.

For Ohio State, Rebeka Mikulasikova led the team with 16 points, while Taylor Thierry, Cotie McMahon, and Jacy Sheldon reached double digits in scoring as well, with 13, 12, and 10 points respectively.

Despite a strong start, Ohio State couldn't maintain their early advantage as Maryland's relentless effort propelled them to a 38-30 lead at halftime. The Buckeyes' shooting struggles continued, converting just 36.4% of their attempts in the first half.

Ohio State made a valiant effort to narrow Maryland's lead in the second half, but a series of runs from the Terrapins dashed their hopes. The deficit proved insurmountable for the Buckeyes as they succumbed to a 82-61 defeat.

Expressing frustration with the officiating, Ohio State coach Kevin McGuff acknowledged that Maryland deserved the victory, while pointing out the need for improvement in terms of competitive character and fighting for rebounds.

With their Big Ten Tournament run cut short, Ohio State now faces a two-week break before their first-round NCAA Tournament game, scheduled for either Friday, March 22 or Saturday, March 23. The Buckeyes, who were initially vying for a No. 1 seed, are now likely to secure a No. 2 or 3 seed.

Ohio State's loss to Maryland marks their first back-to-back defeats of the season following an earlier loss to Iowa in their final regular-season game. However, the Buckeyes had enjoyed a remarkable 15-game winning streak before these setbacks.

This marks only the second time in the last three years that Ohio State has been eliminated in their opening game of the Big Ten Tournament, previously being upset by No. 13 seed Wisconsin in 2019.

The Buckeyes will eagerly await Selection Sunday on March 17, when the NCAA Tournament bracket will be revealed. All eyes will be on Ohio State as they strive to regroup and redeem themselves on the national stage.