Eric Boggs
Just when Oregon began to gain traction early in the second half, Ohio State delivered a knockout blow that defined the night. A devastating 21-0 Buckeye run — fueled by contributions from every corner of the lineup — transformed a tight contest into a commanding 72-62 road victory and sent a clear message that this group was not dwelling on its previous home loss to No. 10 Nebraska.
The win pushed Ohio State to 11-4 overall and 3-2 in Big Ten play, while Oregon fell to 8-8 and 1-4 in conference action. Balance powered the Buckeyes, as all five starters reached double figures. Christoph Tilly and Devin Royal led with 14 points each, John Mobley Jr. added 13, Bruce Thornton finished with 12, and Amare Bynum chipped in 10 in one of the most complete team performances of the season.
The game opened ugly on both sides, but Oregon’s offense was particularly out of sync. The Ducks misfired on 15 of their first 17 shots, and Ohio State took full advantage. Bynum established himself early inside with a pair of buckets, including a quick put-back, while Royal knocked down a smooth triple off the dribble to give the Buckeyes a 10-4 edge.
Ohio State maintained at least a two-possession cushion for most of the opening half. Gabe Cupps delivered valuable bench production with a three that stretched the lead to 18-9, and Bynum later threaded a perfect pass to Royal for a thunderous dunk. Tilly’s fastbreak finish and two free throws from Cupps pushed the margin to double digits before Thornton drilled a three to make it 30-20.
Oregon closed the half strong, however, finishing on a 5-of-6 shooting run to trim the deficit to 34-29 at the break. Despite shooting just 26.5 percent from the field in the first half, the Ducks remained close thanks to offensive rebounds, free throws, and a handful of Ohio State turnovers.
The second half briefly swung Oregon’s way. A three from Kwame Evans Jr. and a runaway layup from Takai Simpkins brought the Ducks within four. Then came the moment that changed everything.
After Tilly scored through contact and Bynum fought for an offensive rebound, the ball kicked out to Thornton, who buried an open three for a five-point possession. Moments later, Mobley launched a fearless shot from the logo that dropped cleanly through the net. On the very next trip, he floated one home, drew contact, and completed the three-point play.
That sequence ignited the avalanche.
Royal went to work with a silky turnaround over former Buckeye Sean Stewart. Bynum muscled in a finish through a foul. Cupps shook his defender and scored. Royal added two more baskets. In less than seven minutes, Ohio State ripped off 21 unanswered points and built a stunning 67-43 advantage that effectively ended the contest.
Oregon attempted one last surge, trimming the margin to ten late, but the Buckeyes calmly managed the final possessions and secured their first double-digit win over a power-conference opponent this season.
The victory also marked Ohio State’s first 3-0 start in Big Ten road games since the 2017-18 campaign, a telling sign of this team’s growing maturity. Bruce Thornton climbed to seventh on the program’s all-time scoring list, and Cupps recorded a season-high nine points off the bench.
Now 3-2 in conference play, the Buckeyes will look to close their West Coast trip on a high note Sunday night at Washington, carrying both momentum and confidence into the heart of the Big Ten schedule. Tip-off is scheduled for 6:00 pm eastern and can be watched on our Patreon.
