Team 126 of the Ohio State men’s basketball program opened their 2025-26 campaign with a lone exhibition, hosting the Ohio Bobcats at the Schottenstein Center. After a tight first 14 minutes, the Buckeyes used a late first half surge to pull away and cruise to a 104-73 victory. In an extremely physical contest—OU was called for 27 fouls—Ohio State overcame a sloppy start with nine first-half turnovers, playing a cleaner second half to secure the comfortable win.

The Buckeyes’ active defense forced 16 Bobcat turnovers, while their efficient offense assisted on 26 of 35 made shots, including 11 by post players, and shot 60% overall, with 40% from three. Seven players reached double figures, led by newcomers Brandon Noel’s 18 points and Christoph Tilly’s impressive debut with 14 points, 5 rebounds, and 7 assists. Freshman A’mare Bynum added 13 points, hitting three triples, while Devin Royal scored 13, John Mobley 12, Bruce Thornton 11 with 4 assists, and Ivan Njegovan 10 points, 6 rebounds, and 4 assists.

For the Bobcats, Ajay Sheldon and Aidan Hardaway led with 14 points apiece, and Jackson Paveleztke added 12. The Buckeyes’ performance served as a successful dress rehearsal for the season ahead.

1st Half

Ohio State opened strong against Ohio University, jumping out to a 12–4 lead by the first media timeout. Bruce Thornton started the scoring with a runner in the middle of the paint, followed by key plays from Brandon Noel—who added a runner, reverse layup, and dunk—and John Mobley, who hit two free throws. Devin Royal capped the early surge with a dunk off a backdoor pass, as the Buckeyes assisted on four of their five early field goals. Out of the timeout, Ohio State struggled with three turnovers that fueled a 9–0 Ohio run to tie the game. The Buckeyes broke the drought when Amare Bynum drove and found Ivan Njegovan for a dunk. After the Bobcats tied it again, Njegovan responded with an offensive rebound and put-back off the glass. The Cats hit two of three free throws to re-tie the game and after another Buckeye turnover, Ohio took their first lead with a bucket in transition. John Mobley’s three briefly put Ohio State ahead, but the Bobcats answered with a basket to retake the lead. As play approached the under-12 timeout, Christoph Tilly was fouled in the paint, sending him to the line with Ohio holding a 20–19 advantage. Out of the timeout, Christoph Tilly hit both free throws before Ohio scored twice to retake the lead. Devin Royal drew a foul on a short jumper and made both free throws to trim the deficit, then John Mobley buried a three off a Tilly assist to put Ohio State back on top. Royal followed with a three of his own, extending the lead to 29–24 before fouling an OU shooter just ahead of the under-eight media timeout. Ohio hit all three free throws to cut the deficit to two, but Bruce Thornton answered with a tough runner off the glass through contact, though he missed the ensuing free throw. After forcing a turnover, Thornton drove again and found Ivan Njegovan for a layup to extend the lead. OU’s Ajay Sheldon, brother of former Ohio State women’s great Jacy Sheldon, responded with a three—his eighth point of the game—to trim the gap to three. A Buckeye turnover led to two Bobcat free throws, pulling Ohio within one, but Thornton quickly scored in transition and then hit a three off a pass from Tilly to rebuild the margin. As Noel drew a foul in the paint before the final media timeout of the half, Ohio State led 38–32. Out of the timeout, Noel hit two free throws to extend Ohio State’s lead, and after Tilly split a pair at the line, he found Noel for a dunk to cap a 10–0 run, forcing an Ohio timeout with just over three minutes left in the half. Sheldon ended the run with a three, but Tilly responded with a strong drive for two, then followed an OU basket with an and-one off an offensive rebound to push the lead back to 11. After an Ohio miss, John Mobley connected with Noel in transition for a layup, and Noel added two more free throws to close the half. Ohio State outscored the Bobcats 19–5 over the final 5:27, taking a 52–37 lead into halftime. 

Brandon Noel paced Ohio State with 12 points, while Christoph Tilly added 10, and Bruce Thornton and John Mobley contributed 9 and 8, respectively. Ohio was led by Aidan Hathaway’s 14 points and Ajay Sheldon’s 11. Despite committing nine turnovers, the Buckeyes forced eight from the Bobcats and shot an impressive 72% from the field while holding OU to 38%. Ohio State also controlled the boards, outrebounding Ohio 19–14, though they allowed eight offensive rebounds. Behind their efficiency and strong finish, the Buckeyes carried a comfortable 15-point lead into halftime.

2nd Half

Ohio State opened the second half with new faces in the lineup, as Gabe Cupps and Colin White replaced John Mobley and Devin Royal, joining Bruce Thornton, Christoph Tilly, and Brandon Noel. After Ajay Sheldon hit a three to start the scoring for Ohio, Thornton answered with a short jumper. Following an OU basket, Tilly grabbed an offensive rebound and dished to Noel for two. The teams traded free throws before Tilly connected with White on a cut to the rim, and then found Noel again for another layup. An Ohio basket just before the under-16 timeout made it 60–47 in favor of the Buckeyes. On their first possession out of the timeout, Royal scored off the window from the right block. After an OU deuce, Mobley was fouled on a long jumper at the end of the shot clock and made both free throws, bailing the Buckeyes out from a broken possession. A corner three by OU was answered by an Amare Bynum bucket, and following a Bobcat turnover, Royal split a pair of free throws. Njegovan grabbed an offensive rebound and converted both free throws to extend the lead. After OU committed an offensive foul, Bynum hit a three from high on the right, forcing OU to call a timeout with 12:10 remaining as Ohio State led 72-52. A hook-and-hold foul on Njegovan gave OU two free throws, both of which fell. On the ensuing possession, the Bobcats scored on a dunk off the inbounds play, but Bynum responded immediately, finishing a Njegovan pass at the rim. After a Buckeye turnover led to an OU three-pointer, Tilly drove to the basket and was fouled, converting both free throws to halt OU’s 7-2 run and extend Ohio State’s lead to 17. Back-to-back OU turnovers set up a Tilly runner, and on the next transition play, Thornton fed Noel for a dunk, forcing OU to call a timeout with 8:59 remaining as the Buckeyes led 80-59. A pair of Mobley free throws extended Ohio State’s lead to 82-59 with under eight minutes remaining. After an OU three-pointer, Bynum hit a corner three off a post feed from Njegovan. Following an OU bucket, Royal responded with a corner three of his own. Another OU three preceded a timeout by the Bobcats, with Ohio State leading 88-67. Another Bynum three, this time from the opposite corner, extended the Buckeye lead. OU was assessed a technical foul for calling a timeout they didn’t have, and Taison Chatman made both free throws. After OU converted two free throws on their possession, Gabe Cupps drove the lane and scored off the glass. After OU hit on two more free throws, Chatman buried a three from the right wing to answer. The Buckeyes added to the lead when Cupps left a lob for Njegovan for a dunk and the lead ballooned to 29. An OU three preceded a Braylen Nash three to complete the scoring in the Ohio State 103-74 win. 

Game Wrap

Overall, it was an impressive debut for the Buckeyes against a Bobcat team picked fourth in the MAC and expected to contend once again for a tournament berth. After a somewhat uneven start—particularly on the boards and in ball security—Ohio State found its rhythm, sharing the basketball at a high level, especially with inside-out play. The game showcased the team’s improved size and athleticism in the post, highlighted by Tilly and Noel, while Bynum, once settled, displayed the versatility and confidence that made him a top-50 recruit.

Both teams experimented with lineups and matchups, but Ohio State appears deeper than in recent years, with minimal drop-off at any position off the bench. The standout aspect of the day was the ball movement and sharing, which, while generally at a good pace, occasionally slowed. The Buckeyes will need to improve their physicality and reduce reliance on size when facing teams that better match up in the paint. Even so, the potential for growth is clear, and the ceiling for this team seems higher than in past seasons. They now have a week to digest the performance and continue improving as the regular season officially begins next Monday.

The Buckeyes hit the hardwood when it counts Monday, November 3, hosting IU Indy at the Schott. Tip time is scheduled for 6:30 PM airing on BTN+.

-Jason Harris