Ohio State wrapped up their season-opening six-game homestand with a resounding 113-60 victory over visiting Mount St. Mary’s, moving to 6-0 to start the season. The Buckeyes wasted no time taking control, jumping out to a 14-point lead just 10 minutes into the game, extending it to 26 by halftime, and never trailing enroute to their sixth straight season-opening win—their first such start since 2019-20.

The Buckeyes opened the second half as they finished the first, outscoring the Mountaineers 22-8 in the opening 7½ minutes—a 41-8 overall run—to blow the game open and cruise to the finish. Ohio State shot an impressive 64% for the game, including 15 of 31 from three-point range, while holding Mount St. Mary’s to just 37% shooting and 6 of 32 from beyond the arc. The Buckeyes dominated the glass, outrebounding the visitors 41-22 and allowing just one offensive rebound after halftime.

Five Buckeyes reached double figures, led by John Mobley, who scored a career-high 26 points on 10-of-15 shooting, including 4-of-9 from three, 6 of 6 from two. Devin Royal added 17 points on 7-of-10 shooting, while Ivan Njegovan, thrust into significant second-half action with Christoph Tilly sidelined due to injury, scored a career-high 15—all coming after halftime. Bruce Thornton added 14 points, tying Perry Carter for 11th all-time in Ohio State scoring, and contributed seven assists, while Christoph Tilly chipped in 12 points, all in the first half, sitting the second half due to precautionary reasons. Off the bench, Taison Chatman scored a career-high nine points, hitting three of four from three, and Brandon Noel added nine points and seven rebounds.

For Mount St. Mary’s, Luke McEldon led the way with 19 points, followed by Ariandus Keyes with 13 and Mason So with 10 in defeat.

1st Half

John Mobley scored the first five points of the game to give the Buckeyes an early edge, but Mount St. Mary’s responded with five straight to tie it. Mobley then found Devin Royal on the left wing for a three, and Royal followed with an offensive rebound and putback to push the lead back to five. A Mountaineer three trimmed the margin once again, and at the first media timeout, Ohio State held a 10–8 advantage.

Out of the break, Amare Bynum wasted no time getting involved, drilling a three from the left point. On the next Mountaineer possession, Christoph Tilly snagged a rebound and went coast to coast, drew a foul at the rim and knocked down both free throws to extend the lead. A Mobley steal created a transition opportunity, and Bynum was fouled at the basket, splitting the pair. After another defensive stop, Mobley buried a heavily contested 15-footer from the right wing extending the Buckeye bulge. A Mount three finally halted Ohio State’s 8–0 run, but Bruce Thornton responded with a short jumper in the paint. Following another Mountaineer bucket, Mobley went back to work with a mid-range jumper, and after a Mount turnover, Bynum drew another foul and converted both free throws. At the under-12 media timeout, the Buckeyes held a 24–13 lead.

The Buckeyes extended their advantage out of a baseline inbounds set, with Tilly catching a pass just above the free-throw line and driving straight to the rim for two. After a Mount St. Mary’s basket, Tilly stepped out and drilled a wide-open three from the right wing. The Mountaineers answered with four straight, but Devin Royal battled for deep post position, took a feed from Bruce Thornton, and finished inside. Mount St. Mary’s responded with another four consecutive points—an 8–2 surge overall—sending the game into the under-8 media timeout with Ohio State’s lead trimmed to 31–23.

It was all Buckeyes out of the timeout, as Ohio State rattled off eight straight to seize a commanding 16-point lead. Christoph Tilly opened the burst with an old-fashioned three-point play, and Bruce Thornton followed with a pump fake and leaner in the paint before stepping out to bury a three from the left wing, prompting a Mount St. Mary’s timeout at the 6:04 mark with the Buckeyes up 39–23. Tilly added two more at the line to stretch both the run and the lead, before a Mountaineer bucket finally halted the 10–0 surge. At the under-4 timeout, Ohio State remained firmly in control, 41–25.

Thornton split a pair at the line, Mobley knocked down two, and Brandon Noel buried a three from the left wing to push the Buckeye lead to 22. Thornton added a triple of his own to officially double up the Mountaineers before they halted the 9–0 run by splitting two free throws. Mobley answered with a short jumper to keep the onslaught rolling, and the Buckeyes closed the half by outscoring Mount St. Mary’s 19–3 over the final 7:37, taking a commanding lead into the locker room.

The Buckeyes controlled the game on both ends in the first half, shooting a blistering 59% from the field, including 7-of-16 from beyond the arc, while holding the Mountaineers to just 33% overall and 4-of-18 from three. Ohio State’s defense forced nine turnovers and committed only three, all while dominating the paint with a 16–8 scoring advantage inside. Nine Buckeyes saw action in the opening half, led by John Mobley’s 13 points. Christoph Tilly added 12 points and five rebounds, and Bruce Thornton contributed 11 points and three assists. Mount St. Mary’s was paced by a pair of players with six points apiece.

2nd Half

Ohio State scored eight of the first ten points of the second half to tighten its grip on the game. Devin Royal opened the scoring by feeding Ivan Njegovan inside for a lay-in, and after a Mount St. Mary’s response, John Mobley sliced through the lane and finished with his left hand. Royal followed with a pull-up 12-footer, and in transition Bruce Thornton found Brandon Noel for another easy bucket. A Mountaineer three briefly halted the surge, but Mobley answered with a long triple from up top. Royal grabbed a defensive rebound, pushed it to the free-throw line, and knocked down a jumper, then moments later buried a left-wing three while being fouled. At the under-16 media timeout, the Buckeyes took a commanding 68–31 lead to the bench.

Out of the timeout, Royal knocked down the free throw to complete the four-point play. After a Mountaineer jumper, Noel answered with a pair of free throws. The Mountaineers converted a give-and-go on their next possession, but Mobley responded by drilling a deep three from the top of the arc. Mount St. Mary’s countered with a long triple of its own, then split a pair of free throws and added a steal-and-score. Njegovan stopped the surge, banking in a hook from the right block as Ohio State carried a 76–41 lead into the under-12 media timeout.

Njegovan continued to impose his will, scoring twice in quick succession—first throwing down a dunk off a feed from Bynum, then converting again after grabbing an offensive rebound—surrounding a Mountaineer basket. Royal then slipped behind the Mount St. Mary’s zone for a two-handed flush, and after another Mountaineer deuce, Njegovan stepped out and buried a three from the top. Following a Mount St. Mary’s score, Thornton added an old-fashioned three-point play, finishing through contact on a short jumper and knocking down the free throw. At the under-8 media timeout, Ohio State had stretched the lead to 88–47.

Noel extended the lead with a mid-paint jumper, and after the Mountaineers split a pair of free throws, John Mobley hit a foul-line jumper. Mount St. Mary’s added another basket, but Mobley responded with a long three from the top of the key. The Mountaineers then made two more free throws on consecutive possessions before Taison Chatman knocked down a three from the left wing. Following a Mountaineer turnover, Amare Bynum took it the length of the court and finished with a thunderous slam. At the under-4 media timeout, Ohio State held a commanding 100–54 lead.

After the Mountaineers split a pair of free throws, Colin White scored in the paint and then forced a turnover, leading to a Bynum lob to Ivan Njegovan for a transition lay-in. Mathieu Grujicic split two free throws to push the lead to 50 before a Mountaineer basket answered. Taison Chatman received a feed from Grujicic and buried a three from the left point, though Mount St. Mary’s quickly responded. Chatman struck again from the left wing, and Njegovan added a jump hook from the middle of the lane. The Mountaineers closed the scoring with a pair of free throws as Ohio State ran out the final 19 seconds, securing their sixth straight victory.

Game Wrap

For the second straight game, Ohio State impressed on both ends of the floor. Mount St. Mary’s had been competitive against teams like West Virginia, Cincinnati and Maryland—the latter of which needed a late three to force overtime—showing they weren’t an easy opponent. The Buckeyes, however, are becoming more connected as a group the more they play together. Their offensive execution has been strong, moving and sharing the ball at an elite level, but the defensive effort over the last few games has been exceptional, particularly in guarding the perimeter against teams that rely heavily on the three-point shot.

While games like this aren’t at the same level of competition they’ll face over the next five matchups, taking care of business is crucial. Each game provides an opportunity to improve and build chemistry, and Ohio State has done just that. Now the focus shifts to the road, starting with Pittsburgh for a little payback from last season, followed by a challenging December stretch, including a trip to Northwestern’s notoriously tough arena to kick off the December portion of the Big Ten schedule. For now, the Buckeyes are in a great spot—6-0—and have the chance to make it 7-0 with a resume-building road win on Friday.

Ohio State hits the road for the first time this season on Friday evening, traveling to Pittsburgh to conclude the home-and-home series after the Panthers came to Columbus and defeated the Buckeyes last year. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m., with coverage on ESPN.

-Jason Harris