Eric Boggs
Ohio State proved again Saturday night that it belongs on the floor with the nation’s best, battling back from an 11-point second-half deficit before coming up just one point short in a 70-69 loss to No. 12 North Carolina in the CBS Sports Classic. The Buckeyes showed growth, toughness, and balance against a Top-15 opponent, putting themselves in position to win in the final seconds.
Devin Royal continued his strong stretch since moving to the wing, delivering one of his most complete performances in Scarlet and Gray. Royal led Ohio State with 18 points and eight rebounds, attacking mismatches and scoring from all three levels. He was joined in double figures by Bruce Thornton with 16 points, John Mobley Jr. with 13, Christoph Tilly with 12, and freshman Amare Bynum with 11 points in his first career start.
North Carolina’s freshman star Caleb Wilson was the difference-maker for the Tar Heels, finishing with 20 points and 15 rebounds, many of them coming on second-chance opportunities. Seth Trimble and Henri Veesaar added 17 points apiece for UNC, which improved to 11-1 on the season.
The game opened as a grind, with both teams struggling to find offensive rhythm. Ohio State leaned on Bynum early, as the freshman made an immediate impact with energy plays around the rim, including a strong putback and a two-handed dunk. Tilly and Thornton followed with interior scoring to briefly give the Buckeyes the lead, while North Carolina countered with transition baskets and physical play.
After the Tar Heels used a 7-0 run to create separation midway through the first half, Ohio State responded with poise. Royal and Thornton sparked an 11-2 Buckeye run to erase the deficit and level the game at 31-31, a stretch that reflected Ohio State’s improved offensive spacing and confidence. North Carolina carried a slim 34-31 edge into halftime, with both teams shooting poorly from beyond the arc.
The second half flipped the script offensively. North Carolina surged behind hot shooting from Trimble and continued production from Wilson, building its largest lead at 56-45. Rather than fading, Ohio State dug in. Thornton found his rhythm in the midrange, Royal continued to pressure the defense, and Tilly provided steady production inside despite foul trouble.
With Bynum forced to the bench late due to fouls, Ohio State leaned on its guards and veterans. The Buckeyes chipped away possession by possession, turning defense into timely baskets. A Thornton jumper and a poised four-point play from Mobley gave Ohio State its first lead of the game since the opening half, 70-67, with under a minute to play.
North Carolina answered with a tough interior finish, and a late Buckeye turnover under pressure proved costly. A loose ball found its way to Veesaar for the decisive basket, and Mobley’s final deep attempt at the buzzer narrowly missed.
Despite the disappointment of the finish, the performance reinforced Ohio State’s upward trajectory. The Buckeyes went toe-to-toe with one of college basketball’s elite programs on a national stage, showcased their depth and versatility, and once again demonstrated the resolve to fight back from adversity.
Ohio State now returns home for its final non-power conference game against Grambling State before diving fully into Big Ten play, carrying with it valuable experience and confidence built against top-tier competition.
