No. 8 Michigan tops No. 13 Ohio State in OT thriller

What it means for stretch run

Feb. 26, 2026 at 4:18am

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In a thrilling back-and-forth contest, No. 8 Michigan defeated No. 13 Ohio State 88-86 in overtime on Wednesday night. The Wolverines led by 9 points in the fourth quarter but surrendered the lead, only to rally back and win on a last-second layup by Olivia Olson, who scored a game-high 31 points.

Why it matters

The win over their rival Ohio State is a crucial step for Michigan in their quest to earn a high NCAA Tournament seed, potentially a No. 1 seed if they can finish the regular season strong. For Ohio State, the loss hurts their chances of hosting the first two rounds of the tournament, as they have now lost three of their last five games.

The details

Michigan led by 9 points in the fourth quarter but allowed Ohio State to tie the game in the final seconds of regulation on 3 free throws by Jaloni Cambridge. In overtime, Ohio State built an 8-point lead but a late turnover allowed Michigan to rally back and tie it. On the final possession, Ohio State's Bryn Martin missed a 3-pointer, setting up Olson's game-winning layup for Michigan.

  • The game was played on Wednesday, February 26, 2026.
  • Michigan had previously lost at Iowa last weekend.

The players

Olivia Olson

The Michigan player who scored a game-high 31 points, including the game-winning layup in overtime.

Jaloni Cambridge

The Ohio State star guard who made 3 free throws in the final seconds of regulation to tie the game and send it to overtime.

Brooke Quarles Daniels

The Michigan player who fouled Jaloni Cambridge on a 3-point attempt in the final seconds of regulation, leading to the game-tying free throws.

Chance Gray

The Ohio State player whose turnover late in overtime gave Michigan an opportunity to rally and tie the game.

Bryn Martin

The Ohio State player who missed a 3-pointer on the final possession of overtime, allowing Michigan to get the game-winning shot.

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What’s next

Michigan will need to beat Maryland to end the regular season and make a run in the Big Ten tournament to have a chance at a No. 1 NCAA Tournament seed. Ohio State will end the regular season at No. 15 Michigan State, and a win there would boost their resume, but they will likely need a deep Big Ten tournament run to host the first two rounds of the NCAA Tournament.

The takeaway

This thrilling rivalry game between two top-15 teams had major implications for their NCAA Tournament seeding and hosting prospects. The win over their rival is a crucial step for Michigan as they aim for a high seed, while the loss hurts Ohio State's chances of hosting the opening rounds of the tournament.