The road continues to be friendly for the Ohio State men’s basketball team, as the Buckeyes improved to a perfect 3–0 in conference road games for the first time since 2021 with a 72–62 win over Oregon in Eugene. The victory lifts Ohio State to 11–4 overall and 3–2 in Big Ten play, while the Ducks fall to 8–8, 1–4.

After trailing briefly in the opening minutes, Ohio State used a 7–0 run to seize control and never trailed again. The Buckeyes created decisive separation in the second half, ripping off a 21–0 run over nearly seven minutes to build a lead as large as 24. The surge helped Ohio State rebound from Monday’s home loss to Nebraska and secure the first leg of its two-game West Coast trip. A late Oregon push trimmed the final margin to 10, but the outcome was never seriously in doubt.

Ohio State shot 45 percent from the field and 6-of-18 from three-point range, while holding Oregon to 33 percent shooting and just 7-of-30 from beyond the arc. The Buckeyes also controlled the glass, out-rebounding the Ducks 41–32, scored 13 points off seven Oregon turnovers, and outscored Oregon 34–24 in the paint.

Five Buckeyes scored in double figures, led by Christoph Tilly and Devin Royal with 14 points apiece. Royal added 10 rebounds to record a double-double. Bruce Thornton finished with 12 points and six rebounds, surpassing Jimmy Jackson for seventh place on Ohio State’s all-time scoring list. John Mobley chipped in 13 points, Amare Bynum added 10, and Gabe Cupps provided a spark off the bench with a career-high-tying nine points in 23 important minutes.

Oregon was led by Nate Bittle, who scored 14 points despite a 5-of-19 shooting night. Takai Simpkins added 12, while Wei Lin and Kwame Evans Jr. each finished with 10. 

1^st Half

Ohio State missed on its first two trips down the floor, allowing Oregon to score first, but the Buckeyes answered with a 7–0 run heading into the opening media timeout. John Mobley knocked down a deep three from the top of the key, and Amare Bynum added four points to give Ohio State a 7–2 advantage.

A Buckeye turnover led to an Oregon transition layup to halt the run, but Devin Royal responded with a three from the left wing. After several minutes of sloppy play on both ends, Ohio State carried a 10–4 lead into the under-12 media timeout.

Ohio State’s seventh team foul, compared to just one for Oregon, allowed the Ducks to knock down a pair of free throws and trim the lead. Christoph Tilly responded with a layup on the other end, but after another Oregon basket, Amare Bynum drew a foul and split his free throws. Oregon drew a second foul and converted one of two, while Tilly went to the line again and made both to push the Buckeye advantage.

The Buckeyes doubled up Oregon when Gabe Cupps hit a three, but a technical foul on Cupps for taunting gave Oregon two free throws, allowing them to cut back into the margin. Bruce Thornton answered with a jumper from just above the free-throw line, but the Ducks countered with a three of their own and at the under-8 media timeout, Ohio State held a 20–14 lead.

On the first possession out of the timeout, Bynum fed a cutting Royal for a dunk to put the Buckeyes up 8. Oregon answered with two free throws, but a long press-breaking pass to Tilly led to a layup. After Oregon split two free throws, Mobley drew contact and went to the line where he split two and at the under 4, Ohio State led 25-17.

Out of the timeout, Gabe Cupps went to the line and knocked down both free throws to push the lead to 10, but Oregon answered quickly with an old-fashioned three-point play to trim the margin. Ohio State responded with a Bruce Thornton triple from the left wing, only to see the Ducks reel off five straight points to cut the lead in half.

Cupps halted the momentum briefly with a layup, but Oregon countered with a short jumper. Thornton then scored off the bounce, and Oregon answered with a layup on the other end to close the first-half scoring. Ohio State carried a 34–29 lead into the locker room.

Ohio State’s defense limited Oregon to just 26 percent shooting in the first half, including 2-of-15 from three-point range, while the Buckeyes connected on 50 percent of their own attempts and went 4-of-10 from beyond the arc. Despite allowing nine offensive rebounds, Ohio State held a 20–16 edge on the glass and recorded assists on seven of its 12 made field goals.

Gabe Cupps and Bruce Thornton paced the Buckeyes with seven first-half points apiece, while Oregon was led by Takia Simpkins and Wei Lin, who scored eight each.

2^nd Half

Ohio State opened the second half by turning an Oregon turnover into a bucket from Amare Bynum. The Ducks answered with five straight points, but Christoph Tilly converted inside while drawing a foul. After Tilly missed the free throw, the Buckeyes secured the offensive rebound and Bruce Thornton knocked down a three to push the lead back out. Oregon followed with a pair of free throws, but Tilly responded with a jump hook in the lane, sending Ohio State into the under-16 media timeout with a 43–36 advantage.

Out of the timeout, Oregon went to the line and converted both free throws, then capitalized on a Buckeye turnover with two more at the stripe to cut the deficit to three. John Mobley answered by knocking down a three from the top of the key, but the Ducks responded with a three of their own. Ohio State came right back as Mobley finished a runner through contact and converted the free throw to complete the three-point play, restoring a six-point cushion. Devin Royal followed with a 15-footer, and at the under-12 media timeout, Ohio State led 51–43.

Tilly, who drew a foul before the timeout, went to the line and calmly knocked down both free throws to push the Buckeye lead to 10. After a defensive stop, Amare Bynum scored at the rim through contact and converted the free throw to complete the three-point play.

Ohio State continued to add on as Tilly split a pair at the stripe and Gabe Cupps finished a dribble drive, forcing Oregon to burn a timeout with the Buckeyes in the midst of a 13–0 run and holding a commanding 59–43 lead. An old-fashioned three-point play by Royal added to the run and the lead and at the under 8, Ohio State led 62-45.

Mobley went to the line for three after being fouled just before the media timeout and buried all of them, and following a Bynum block, Royal scored at the rim as Ohio State was pouring it on. Oregon finally halted the 21-0 Buckeye surge with a corner three and tacked on four more points before Thornton stopped the bleeding with a short jumper in the paint. The Ducks then hit another three and converted a dunk off an offensive rebound, cutting a once 24-point Ohio State lead to 69-55 at the under-four mark after a 12-2 Oregon run.

After Oregon hit a short jumper to close the lead to 12, Royal hit two free throws on the other end to halt the momentum. After an Ohio State turnover, Oregon buried a three but with just a minute left, the Oregon flurry was too little too late. After Tilly split two free throws, Oregon scored on a tip-in to complete the scoring in a big Buckeye win.

Game Wrap

Both teams entered the matchup shorthanded, as Ohio State was without sixth-year senior forward Brandon Noel, who is expected to miss extended time with a foot injury, while Oregon played without leading scorer Jackson Shelstad (15 ppg). It was a game the Buckeyes needed in a big way to start the West Coast road trip on the right foot, making a fast start imperative.

In nearly every game against high-major opponents this season, Ohio State had fallen behind by double digits in the opening half. On this night, however, the Buckeyes flipped the script, jumping out to an early lead and keeping Oregon at arm’s length throughout. That change in narrative proved critical to the outcome.

Bench production was also a point of emphasis, and Gabe Cupps answered the call for Jake Diebler’s squad, contributing in a significant way. Ivan Njegovan also provided quality minutes off the bench, playing strong post defense that helped force Duck leading scorer Nate Bittle into a difficult offensive night, while adding four rebounds.

Road wins carry extra weight in the Big Ten, and with Ohio State already securing three—and another opportunity looming Sunday—the Buckeyes are positioning themselves well if they can carry this momentum forward. This was as close to a complete 40-minute effort as Ohio State has produced all season, and if they can build on it, positive things lie ahead. The NCAA Tournament is beginning to look more like a realistic goal than a distant dream. There is still a long way to go, but the Buckeyes are in a strong spot if they continue to improve and take care of business moving forward.

Box Score

*Official statistics provided courtesy of the University of Oregon and Statcast

The Buckeyes conclude the west coast swing at Washington on Sunday evening for a 6 PM tip with TV coverage on Peacock.

-Jason Harris