Eric Boggs
In a hard-fought battle between No. 21 Ohio State and No. 23 Texas A&M at Reed Arena in College Station, Texas, the Buckeyes suffered their first loss of the season, falling 78-64. While the Aggies capitalized on home-court energy and executed at critical moments, Ohio State struggled to find its rhythm, particularly from beyond the arc.
The Buckeyes entered the matchup hot from deep, shooting 48% from three-point range in their first two games, but their touch disappeared against Texas A&M. Ohio State managed just 8-of-30 (27%) from long distance, with cold spells hampering their ability to gain momentum. Turnovers (10), rebounding struggles (losing the battle 39-33), and fouls (24, leading to 32 made free throws for the Aggies) compounded the problems for Jake Diebler’s squad.
Bright Spots for the Buckeyes
Despite the loss, Bruce Thornton and John Mobley Jr. stood out for Ohio State, scoring 15 and 13 points, respectively. Micah Parrish added 10 points, while Aaron Bradshaw contributed seven points and six rebounds in the effort.
First Half Woes
The game started promisingly for Ohio State, with Bruce Thornton knocking down a three-pointer just over a minute in. However, the Buckeyes went ice cold, missing their next nine shots and committing three turnovers in a six-minute stretch. Aaron Bradshaw’s dunk at 12:18 finally broke the drought, but by then, Texas A&M had built a 12-3 lead.
Ohio State struggled to find consistent offense against the Aggies’ aggressive man-to-man defense. Despite flashes of production late in the half—including a three-pointer each from Mobley and Ques Glover—the Buckeyes trailed 31-22 at halftime. Their shooting in the opening period was a dismal 7-of-32 (22%), with turnovers and rebounding struggles further tilting the game in Texas A&M’s favor.
Second Half Fight, but No Comeback
Texas A&M came out firing in the second half, hitting back-to-back threes to extend their lead to 37-22. Ohio State called an early timeout, and while Micah Parrish briefly shifted momentum with a midrange jumper, his subsequent turnover and flagrant foul allowed the Aggies to stay in control.
The Buckeyes showed resilience, however, with a 14-6 run led by Mobley, Parrish, and Bradshaw. Yet, despite cutting into the deficit, Ohio State could never get closer than 11 points. The Aggies’ ability to convert high-percentage looks and hit timely threes kept the Buckeyes at bay.
A late surge by Ohio State, during which the team hit eight of its final 13 shots, came too late to change the outcome. The Buckeyes fought until the end but couldn’t overcome an 18-point second-half deficit.
Looking Ahead
Ohio State drops to 2-1 on the season but will have opportunities to regroup in the coming weeks. Next up is a home matchup against Evansville on Tuesday at 7 p.m. (B1G+). Following that, the Buckeyes will host Campbell (Nov. 22), Green Bay (Nov. 25), and Pitt (Nov. 29) at the Schottenstein Center to close out November.
Despite the disappointment, this game highlighted areas of improvement for a talented team. With adjustments to shooting consistency, rebounding, and ball security, Ohio State has the potential to bounce back stronger in the games ahead. Buckeye Nation will be watching, ready to cheer them on.
