Eric Boggs
Ohio State basketball put on a show in Value City Arena, cruising past the Ohio Bobcats 103-74 in an exhibition matchup that highlighting the teams scoring ability and depth. Every Buckeye starter scored in double figures, while several newcomers made an instant impression in their Scarlet and Gray debuts.
Transfer forward Brandon Noel (pictured above), who joined the Buckeyes from Wright State, led all scorers with 18 points and set the tone early with a mix of physicality and finesse around the rim. His frontcourt partner, Santa Clara transfer Christoph Tilly, looked equally impressive—contributing 14 points, five rebounds, and a remarkable seven assists, showing a level of passing rarely seen from a center.
Returning stars Bruce Thornton, John Mobley Jr., and Devin Royal added 11, 12, and 13 points respectively, rounding out a starting lineup that looked sharp and unselfish throughout. Freshman forward Amare Bynum gave Ohio State a lift off the bench, pouring in 13 points—all in the second half—while sophomore center Ivan Njegovan joined the double-figure party with 10 of his own.
The Buckeyes started quickly, opening with a flurry of dunks and crisp ball movement that had Value City Arena buzzing. Noel’s early dominance in the paint helped Ohio State jump to a 12-4 lead, though the Bobcats responded with a brief 8-0 run. From there, Ohio State found its rhythm, tightening up its ball control and heating up from deep with key shots from Mobley and Royal. Thornton’s leadership at point guard was evident as he sparked an 11-0 run late in the half, propelling the Buckeyes to a 52-37 halftime advantage.
In the second half, Ohio State continued to move the ball with precision. Tilly’s vision shined as he connected with Noel on a series of backdoor cuts before finding Royal for an easy bucket to stretch the lead. Bynum then energized the crowd with a sequence of highlight plays—a smooth floater, a deep three, and a dunk off a slick feed from Njegovan—to extend the margin to 20.
Even when Ohio tried to rally, head coach Jake Diebler’s squad responded immediately. The Buckeyes’ starters returned to the floor, reestablished control, and extended the lead to 80-59 before the bench closed things out. The final moments belonged to the walk-ons, as Braylen Nash drilled a late three-pointer that brought fans to their feet and sealed the emphatic 103-74 victory.
Beyond the score, the game was a strong indicator of what’s ahead for Ohio State. The transfers meshed seamlessly with returning players, the bench showed promise, and the team displayed the kind of depth and balance needed for a grueling Big Ten season. With seven players in double figures and crisp offensive execution, the Buckeyes looked every bit the part of a team ready to make noise this year.
Ohio State will officially open its season at home against IU Indianapolis on November 3 at 6:30 p.m., with the game set to stream on B1G+. If this exhibition performance was any indication, the Buckeyes are more than ready for the real thing.
