Eric Boggs
Bruce Thornton, John Mobley Jr., and Christoph Tilly combined for a staggering 72 points to power the Buckeyes past Purdue Fort Wayne, 94-68, and improve to 2-0 on the season.
From the opening tip, Ohio State seized control and never looked back. Thornton set the tone early with a smooth fadeaway jumper, quickly followed by a Mobley three-pointer and a Tilly layup as the Buckeyes jumped out to a 7-0 lead. That opening burst was just the beginning of an offensive showcase from the trio, who scored Ohio State’s first 30 points of the contest. By the 10-minute mark, the Buckeyes had built a 30-14 lead, and although a brief lull in scoring followed due to turnovers, Jake Diebler’s squad still entered halftime with a commanding 45-30 advantage.
Thornton, Mobley, and Tilly were responsible for 42 of those first-half points, with the Buckeyes shooting 62.9% from the field and nearly 44% from beyond the arc. The trio’s chemistry was evident — crisp passing, confident shooting, and constant movement kept the Mastodons’ defense scrambling.
Purdue Fort Wayne made a brief push to open the second half, trimming the lead to single digits after capitalizing on Ohio State’s turnovers. But just as quickly as momentum shifted, the Buckeyes slammed the door shut. Out of a timeout, Thornton caught fire again, scoring 13 of Ohio State’s next 24 points during a game-defining run that pushed the lead to 80-62 with five minutes to play.
Thornton was unstoppable, finishing with a career-high 38 points on 14-of-17 shooting, including five three-pointers, while also adding five rebounds and five assists. Mobley was lethal from deep, knocking down five triples en route to 19 points, and Tilly showcased his versatility with 15 points, six rebounds, and four assists. Together, they embodied the balanced, unselfish offense Diebler has been striving to build.
Defensively, Ohio State held Purdue Fort Wayne to just 22.7% shooting from beyond the arc and forced key turnovers that led to transition buckets. The Buckeyes, meanwhile, shot an incredible 66.7% from the field and 57.1% from three-point range, displaying the kind of efficiency that could make them a real threat in the Big Ten this season.
For Thornton, this game was more than a scoring milestone — it was a statement. The senior captain has become the heartbeat of this Ohio State team, and his leadership continues to drive the program forward. With Mobley’s sharpshooting and Tilly’s inside-out versatility complementing him perfectly, the Buckeyes’ chemistry offensively is starting take shape.
Ohio State will look to keep its early-season momentum rolling as it continues nonconference play, but Friday night’s performance made one thing clear — Bruce Thornton and company are setting the tone for what could be a special season in Columbus.
