Coming off a road defeat in their season opener, the 2026-27 Ohio State basketball team made its home debut and made the most of it, using a decisive 16-2 run midway through the second half to create separation and pull away from a pesky Youngstown State squad, defeating the visiting Penguins 89-65. The victory evens the Buckeyes’ record at 1-1, while Youngstown State falls to 1-1. In a game that remained much closer than most would have anticipated for nearly 30 minutes, Ohio State eventually took control by using its defense to generate transition opportunities and put the Penguins away. The Buckeyes shot 47% from the floor but struggled from beyond the arc, connecting on just 4 of 19 attempts. They assisted on 15 of their 28 made field goals while holding Youngstown State to 38% shooting overall and 9 of 31 from three-point range. Ohio State dominated the glass throughout, finishing with a commanding 46-27 rebounding advantage, while forcing 13 turnovers compared to 12 of its own, although just three of the Buckeyes’ turnovers came after halftime. The biggest difference came in transition, where the Buckeyes held a 24-7 advantage in fast-break points. Their ability to turn defensive stops into easy scoring opportunities fueled the second-half run that ultimately put the game out of reach. Ohio State also made its presence felt at the free-throw line, converting 29 of 34 attempts compared to just 10 of 17 for Youngstown State.
John Mobley led four Buckeyes in double figures with 25 points on 7-of-9 shooting, while Andrija Jelavic delivered an impressive performance with 21 points and nine rebounds. Amare Bynum added 15 points and eight rebounds, and Justin Pippen chipped in 10 points and six rebounds in the victory.
Youngstown State was led by Japhet Moupadele, who came off the bench to score 16 points. Dom Askins and Linus Holmstrom also reached double figures, contributing 13 and 12 points, respectively.
1st Half
Mobley opened the scoring with a 15-footer from the left wing before Jelavic added a transition dunk to give Ohio State an early 4-0 advantage. Youngstown State answered from beyond the arc, but Jelavic scored inside and Bynum converted two free throws to keep the Buckeyes in control. The Penguins responded with a pair of three-pointers sandwiched around a free throw to take a 10-8 lead at the first media timeout.
Out of the break, Pippen split a pair at the line before Bynum answered a Penguin basket with a finish on the left block. Williams added a driving score and Bynum knocked down two more free throws as Ohio State reclaimed the lead, 15-14, heading into the under-12 media timeout.
Youngstown State briefly reclaimed the lead before back-to-back Buckeye steals sparked transition dunks from Thompson and Mobley. Mobley was assessed a technical for hanging on the rim, allowing the Penguins to regain momentum, but Jelavic answered with consecutive baskets to give Ohio State a 23-19 advantage at the under-eight-minute timeout.
Mobley added two free throws, but Youngstown State continued to keep pace as the teams traded baskets. Thompson converted a pair at the line, only to see the Penguins answer with back-to-back three-pointers to swing the momentum. The late surge gave Youngstown State a 30-28 lead heading into the final media timeout of the first half.
After briefly falling behind, Ohio State closed the half strong with an 8-0 run fueled by transition offense, free-throw shooting and a Pippen three-pointer. Williams found Mobley for a tying layup before converting two free throws to put the Buckeyes back in front. Pippen extended the advantage from deep, and Mobley added two more at the line as Ohio State finished the half on an 8-2 surge to take a 38-33 lead into the locker room.
Despite carrying a five point halftime lead, Ohio State struggled to find its offensive rhythm, shooting just 37.5% from the field and 1-of-9 from three-point range while recording only six assists on 11 made baskets. Youngstown State was nearly as cold, shooting 37.9% overall and 5-of-19 from deep. The Buckeyes controlled the glass with a 27-13 rebounding advantage and were solid at the free-throw line, converting 15-of-18 attempts. However, nine turnovers and a 14-5 disadvantage in bench scoring allowed the Penguins to remain within striking distance heading into the second half.
John Mobley led Ohio State with 10 first half points, while Andrija Jelavic added 8 points and 6 rebounds in the first half. Youngstown State was led by Jaiden Haynes who had 9.
2nd Half
Youngstown State opened the second half with a 7-0 run to erase Ohio State’s halftime advantage and take the lead. LJ Smith ended the drought with two free throws, while Mobley and Jelavic helped the Buckeyes regain control with trips to the line and a score inside. After the Penguins tied it again from beyond the arc, Smith answered with a driving basket, giving Ohio State a narrow 46-44 lead heading into the under-16 media timeout.
Williams found Josh Ojianwuna for a lob dunk to extend the Buckeye lead, and Mobley followed with a driving finish and free throw to complete a three-point play. Mobley added a short jumper in the paint to counter another YSU basket, but the Penguins capitalized on a Buckeye turnover for a transition score, trimming the deficit to three. Ohio State held a narrow 53-50 advantage at the under-12 media timeout.
Youngstown State pulled within one with a pair of free throws, but Bynum answered by converting both of his attempts at the other end. Jelavic then caught fire, knocking down a three-pointer before adding a driving score to push the Buckeye lead to eight. With Ohio State threatening to create some separation, the Penguins called timeout with 9:02 remaining and the Buckeyes leading 60-52.
Ohio State continued to build momentum out of the timeout, with Jelavic knocking down a short jumper off a Thompson pass before Bynum added a transition basket. The Buckeyes then forced a turnover, leading to another fast-break opportunity that Bynum finished with a dunk. The surge extended Ohio State’s run to 13-0 and pushed the lead to 66-52, forcing another Youngstown State timeout.
Youngstown State briefly halted the Buckeye run with a transition basket, but Mobley answered with a three. Jelavic continued to provide a spark inside, scoring twice off assists from Smith and Pippen as Ohio State maintained control. After the Penguins found an easy dunk at the rim, the Buckeyes called timeout with 4:01 remaining and holding a comfortable 73-58 advantage.
Pippen continued to fuel the Buckeye surge, splitting a pair of free throws before converting a driving floater and free throw for a three-point play. He added another basket off the dribble, while Mobley followed with a three-pointer to extend the advantage. Youngstown State managed a three of its own but had little answer for Ohio State’s offensive surge, calling timeout with 2:22 remaining and the Buckeyes firmly in control, 82-63.
Two Mobley free throws extended the Buckeyes’ advantage, and after a runner fell for the Penguins on the other end, Bynum drew a foul attacking the rim and converted both attempts at the line. Ivan Njegovan added a bucket with just under a minute remaining, prompting Ohio State to clear its bench. Alex Smith then split a pair of free throws to record his first point as a Buckeye, accounting for the final point of the game as Ohio State closed out a hard-fought victory.
Game Wrap
There is no reason to hit the panic button just yet, but Thursday’s performance certainly wasn’t the kind of showing that will inspire a great deal of confidence for at least part of the game. The Buckeyes continue to have some noticeable issues on the defensive end, particularly with perimeter coverage and communication. Too often, Youngstown State found itself with uncontested looks from the outside or open driving lanes created by slow rotations and late closeouts. While the Penguins may not have had the same level of talent as Ohio State, they were able to take advantage of those defensive lapses and find far too many easy scoring opportunities. On the offensive end, the Buckeyes struggled to establish any real flow for extended stretches. Perimeter shots weren’t falling, ball movement became stagnant, and possessions too often seemed to get bogged down on one side of the floor. Despite having a significant advantage on the boards, Ohio State failed to capitalize consistently on those extra possessions, allowing Youngstown State to remain competitive much longer than expected.
When the Buckeyes finally began to create some separation, it was their defensive intensity that sparked the turnaround. More pressure on the ball and better defensive activity led to turnovers and opportunities to get out in transition, where Ohio State was able to generate easier baskets and build momentum. The final 24-point margin was certainly more reflective of the difference between these two teams, but it took nearly 30 minutes for the Buckeyes to impose their will. Still, the stretch that ultimately put the game away provided a glimpse of what this team can look like when its athleticism, defensive pressure and offensive firepower begin working together.
There is no question this team has some growing to do, and the early concerns surrounding defensive execution and offensive consistency aren’t going to disappear overnight. However, the talent and potential are difficult to overlook. Ohio State has the personnel to be an impactful team, but the next step is developing the chemistry, communication and consistency needed to put it all together for 40 minutes. Tonight offered a reminder that there is still plenty of work ahead, but also showed why there is legitimate excitement surrounding this group. If the Buckeyes can turn those flashes into sustained performances, they have the potential to become a very dangerous team as the season unfolds.
Box Score
*Official statistics provided courtesy of Sidearm Sports.
The Buckeyes return to action on Monday evening hosting Marshall in the Schott. Tip time is scheduled for 6pm with television coverage provided by BTN.
-Jason Harris
Photo Credit: Joseph Maiorana, IMAGN IMAGES Via Reuters Connect