Christoph Tilly made a sensational Buckeye debut, scoring a career-high 28 points with 9 rebounds to lead Ohio State to a 118-102 season-opening win over IUI at the newly updated Schottenstein Center. The Buckeyes used a 21-6 first-half run to seize control, building a lead as large as 22. Although the Jaguars’ hot shooting and fast pace narrowed the gap to 10 late, Ohio State held on to improve to 1-0, while IUI fell to 0-1.

The game featured heavy fouling, with IUI committing 36 fouls and fouling out three players, sending Ohio State to the line 53 times and converting 42 (79.2%). The Buckeyes shot 63% overall, including 8-of-22 from three, after making their first five, and had four players in double figures: Tilly (28), Bruce Thornton (26 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists), Devin Royal (22 points, 8 rebounds), and John Mobley (16 points, 8 assists). Brandon Noel added 10 rebounds despite scoring only 6 points. For IUPUI, Kameron Tinsley scored 22, Kyler D’Augustino 21, Jaxon Edwards 13, and Matt Compas 10.

1st Half

The game opened at a blistering pace, with Ohio State catching fire early—hitting all seven of its shots, including five from beyond the arc—to jump out to a 19–8 lead at the first media timeout. Bruce Thornton and Devin Royal each buried two threes, while John Mobley added another as the Buckeyes built a quick double-digit advantage. Out of the timeout, IUI hit two of three free throws to trim the deficit to nine, then forced a turnover with full-court pressure that led to another basket, cutting the lead to seven. After Christoph Tilly split a pair at the line, a Jaguar three extended their run to 7–1. The Buckeyes responded as Mobley found Thornton cutting for a layup, and following an IUI score, Colin White finished in transition before tossing a lob to Amare Bynum, again in transition for a dunk to rebuild the margin. The Jaguars answered with five straight points to pull within four, but Mobley connected with Ivan Njegovan for a bucket just before the under-12 media timeout, giving Ohio State a 28–22 lead. Out of the timeout, IUI sank two free throws to cut the lead to four, then Mobley’s transition layup and a short jumper off the glass by Tilly pushed the Buckeye lead to 54-35 at the under-4 media timeout. scored again after a Buckeye miss to make it a one-possession game. Taison Chatman and Devin Royal each hit a pair of free throws to steady Ohio State, but the Jaguars answered with another basket and a transition score following a Buckeye turnover to pull back to within two. Bruce Thornton split a pair at the line before IUI hit a runner to stay close. Continued IUI fouling sent Christoph Tilly to the stripe, where he made one of two, and after a Jaguar turnover, Royal hit a jumper through contact and completed the three-point play. At the under-eight media timeout, Ohio State held a 37–32 lead. Out of the timeout, Ohio State forced two turnovers — Royal converted the first into a short jumper, and then Gabe Cupps grabbed a backcourt steal that led to a Tilly three, extending the Buckeye lead to 10, prompting an IUI timeout. Out of the timeout, Ohio State’s pressure produced another turnover, leading to two free throws from Royal. After another Jaguar miscue, Cupps was fouled on a three-point attempt and made all three shots, stretching the lead to 14. IUI halted the 9-0 Buckeye run with a split at the line, but Ohio State quickly answered as Tilly broke the press and found Noel cutting for a layup. Following two IUI free throws, Thornton added a mid-lane runner. The Buckeyes added another two, when a transition lay-in by Mobley dropped and added two more when Tilly banked in a short jumper and at the under 4 media timeout, Ohio State led IUI 54-35. The Buckeyes extended the margin after the timeout with two free throws from Royal. IUI responded with a three, but Mobley countered with two at the line. The Jaguars scored twice, capitalizing on a Buckeye turnover, before trading baskets with Noel and Thornton around another IUI three. A subsequent bucket and two free throws from the Jaguars trimmed the lead to 12, but Tilly’s putback off an offensive rebound and a Buckeye steal halted the momentum. After a quick Buckeye timeout, Royal was fouled at the basket and after missing two free throws, grabbed the offensive rebound and scored off the window just before the horn, sending the teams to their respective locker rooms with the Buckeyes holding a 66-50 advantage. Devin Royal led all scorers with 19, while Bruce Thornton added 13 and Christoph Tilly chipped in 11 as Ohio State shot 66.7% from the floor in the first half. After hitting their first 5 three attempts, the Buckeyes missed 9 of their next 10 attempts, cooling off to hit 40%. IUI shot 50% from the field, knocking down 5 of 16 from beyond the arc, while Ohio State forced 9 turnovers, scoring 17 points off of the miscues. IUI was led by 9 points each by Kyler D’Augustino and Kameron Tinsley.

2nd Half

Ohio State opened the second half scoring with an old-fashioned three-point play from Tilly. After a Jaguar basket, Noel tipped in a miss, and Tilly added a transition layup. Two IUI threes sandwiched a Mobley drive and finish, making it 75-58 Buckeyes with 16:32 to play. Tilly added another score, spinning in the lane and laying it off the window and after an IUI deuce, Cupps got to the tin off the dribble and was fouled sending him to the stripe for two. He knocked down one of two and the Buckeye lead was 18. IUI scored twice around a Bynum basket before Mobley added two free throws. After another Jaguar bucket, IUI called timeout with 13:12 remaining and Ohio State ahead 82-66. Following a Buckeye shot clock violation, IUI hit a three to cut the lead to 13. Chatman responded with a three, and after a defensive stop, Noel scored off an offensive rebound. Thornton then went coast-to-coast for a layup, giving Ohio State an 89-69 lead and a 7-0 run at the under-12 media timeout. Tilly’s two free throws extended Ohio State’s lead, but a 7-0 Jaguar run off backcourt turnovers cut it to 15. Thornton made two free throws to slow the momentum, though IUI hit another three. Mobley countered with a three, and after an IUI basket, Thornton made two more free throws. Tilly followed with a putback free throw after being fouled, putting the Buckeyes up 16 with just over eight minutes remaining. IUI scored again, but Tilly answered with a basket, and another Jaguar two made it 101-87 in favor of Ohio State at the under-8 media timeout with 6:59 left. Two Thornton free throws pushed the lead higher, but IUI hit back-to-back threes following Ohio State turnovers, cutting it first to 13 and then to 10. Free throws by Tilly (2) and Royal (1) restored separation, giving the Buckeyes a 13-point lead with just under five minutes remaining. Two Royal free throws and a Thornton runner added to the lead and increased the run to 7-0 before IUI hit a baseline jumper. Cupps added a pair of free throws to answer before another Jaguar jumper fell. After Tilly split a pair of free throws, Thornton hit two of his own and the Buckeyes led by 18 with 1:31 to play. After Thortnon split a pair of free throws, IUI drove the lane and finished with a powerful dunk before Mobley was fouled and went to the stripe where he knocked down both. A foul on a three attempt, put the Jags on the line for three and all dropped to complete the scoring in the Ohio State win. 

Game Wrap

Ohio State opened the season strongly, thriving against a full-court pressing IU Indianapolis team. The Buckeyes’ offense, feeding their preferred high-tempo style, was efficient and collaborative, with 19 of 34 baskets assisted. Certainly a high point of this game was the play of Christoph Tilly, making his Buckeye debut, showing his versatility on both ends of the court, giving the Buckeyes an element they haven’t had in the post in a long time, boding well for the future and ceiling of this team. While they out rebounded IUI 41-25, defensively, however, they struggled at times, allowing deep penetration and some open threes, though IU shot just 31.6%. Early-season lineup experiments contributed to occasional turnovers and defensive lapses, with second-half turnovers (13) highlighting areas for improvement. Despite the uneven moments and frequent whistles disrupting flow, the Buckeyes secured the win, moved to 1-0, and can build on their strengths while addressing weaknesses moving forward as they will play a more traditional style of game with upcoming opponents.

The Buckeyes get back at it in an attempt to move to 2-0 on Friday evening, hosting Purdue Ft. Wayne at the Schott. Tip time is scheduled for 6:30 PM, airing on BTN.

-Jason Harris