An Ohio State record that’s stood for nearly 40 years is on the verge of being broken.
With one game remaining in the 2025-26 men’s basketball regular season, OSU senior captain Bruce Thornton is closing in on the program’s all-time scoring record. The 6-foot-2, 215-pound guard is enjoying the most prolific season of his career, averaging 19.9 points through 30 games. He has topped 30 points in three games this year, setting a new career high with 38 in a season-opening win against IU Indy.
What will it take to get to the top of Ohio State’s all-time scoring list? Here’s how close Thornton is to the record and when he could get there:
Who is Ohio State’s all-time leading scorer?
Dennis Hopson, a product of Toledo Bowsher, scored a school-record 958 points during his 1986-87 senior season to give him 2,096 for his career and sole possession of first place on the school’s all-time scoring list.
It was a steady climb for Hopson, who averaged 5.3 points as a freshman in 1983-84, 9.8 per game as a sophomore and 20.9 as a junior. As a senior, he scored an impressive 29 per game.
The 3-point line was established during Hopson’s senior year, and he went 67 for 160 (41.9%) in 33 games. His scoring total that season is 223 points more than second-place Gary Bradds, who scored 735 points in 24 games in 1963-64.
Ohio State went 74-51 in Hopson’s four years and reached the second round of the NCAA Tournament in 1985 and 1987.
Hopson was named the 1987 United Press International player of the year in the Big Ten and was inducted into the Ohio State Athletics Hall of Fame in 1994.
How many points has Bruce Thornton scored?
Like Hopson, it’s been a steady climb for Thornton. He has increased his scoring averages each year, going from 10.6 as a freshman in 2022-23 to 15.7, 17.7 and now 19.9 through 30 games this season.
He will finish as the first player to lead Ohio State in scoring for three straight seasons since Michael Redd did it from 1997-98 through 1999-2000.
After Thornton scored 18 points in a 94-62 win at Penn State, he sits at 2,085 for his career. He’s the third Buckeye to top 2,000 points, joining Hopson and Herb Williams, who had 2,011 points in 114 games from 1978-81.
When could Bruce Thornton pass Dennis Hopson?
Thornton is 12 points behind Hopson entering a March 7 home game against Indiana. At his current average, Thornton should pass Hopson early in the second half against the Hoosiers.
That game is not only the final one of the regular season, meaning it will be Thornton’s senior day, but the first 2,000 fans will also receive Thornton bobbleheads.
Ohio State men’s basketball beat writer Adam Jardy can be reached at ajardy@dispatch.com, on Bluesky at @cdadamjardy.bsky.social or on Twitter at @AdamJardy.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: When could Ohio State’s Bruce Thornton pass Dennis Hopson in scoring?
Reporting by Adam Jardy, Columbus Dispatch / The Columbus Dispatch
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
