Aaron Bradshaw scored 11 points against his former team in his first game in more than a month to help Ohio State upset No. 4 Kentucky 85-65 at Madison Square Garden in New York on Saturday.
Bruce Thornton led the Buckeyes (8-4) with 30 points and John Mobley Jr. added 15 as they evened the all-time series at 11-11.
Bradshaw missed seven games since Nov. 19 while the university investigated an alleged domestic incident at his off-campus apartment. He was allowed to rejoin the team on Dec. 9.
Bradshaw entered Saturday’s game at the 17:46 mark of the first half and quickly made his first two shots. He played in 26 games and made 10 starts as a freshman for Kentucky last season after missing the first month because of a foot injury.
Otega Oweh scored 21 for the Wildcats (10-2). Andrew Carr chipped in 13 points.
Kentucky trailed by 15 early in the second half but pulled to within 51-45, but the Buckeyes started a 7-0 a few minutes later to push their lead back to 15, 66-51, with just over nine minutes to play.
Ohio State was able to finish out the win a week after a 91-53 loss to No. 2 Auburn.
The Buckeyes took a 39-30 halftime lead thanks to shooting 63 percent (17 of 27) from the field. They used an 8-0 run to go up 28-21 while the Wildcats went more than four minutes without a point.
Ohio State had a 24-10 advantage in the paint in the first half.
The Wildcats under first-year coach Mark Pope began the day leading the nation at a 91.3 points per game.
Ohio State guard Ques Glover returned after missing eight games with an ankle injury and finished with nine points, but guard Meechie Johnson was away a second straight game due to personal matters.
–Field Level Media
