All five Ohio State starters scored double digit points on the way to a 103-74 win over Ohio in an exhibition game at Value City Arena on Sunday.
OSU held the Bobcats to 35.8-percent shooting (24 of 67) in the game while the Buckeyes managed to shoot 60.3 percent from the field (35 of 58).
The Buckeyes took advantage of a slow start by Ohio, making their first five shots with Wright State transfer Brandon Noel scoring six of the first 12 points on the way to an early eight-point lead.
But the Buckeyes committed four turnovers in just over two minutes and the Bobcats took advantage, tying the game up at 12 apiece. A turnover by John Mobley Jr. turned into a fast break layup to give Ohio its first lead of the game, 18-16, before Mobley made a three-pointer to take the lead back.
After Ohio took a 24-21 lead, Ohio State went on an 8-0 run thanks to two Devin Royal free throws and three-pointers by Mobley and Royal. The Bobcats were able to stay in the game until the Buckeyes broke off on a 10-0 run over 2:18 to take a 43-32 lead.
Ohio answered with five points, but the Buckeyes went on a 7-0 run to close the half with a converted and one from Christoph Tilly and four straight points from Noel. The Buckeyes went into the locker room at halftime with a 52-37 lead.
The Buckeyes were efficient from the field in the first half, making 18 of 25 shots (72.0 percent) and 4 of 10 (40.0 percent) from three. They outrebounded the Bobcats 19 to 14, but eight of OU’s were offensive boards.
True freshman Amare Bynum knocked down a three to finish an 8-0 run that put Ohio State up 20 points, 72-52, with 12:10 remaining in the game.
The Buckeyes continued to roll through the rest of the second half, taking a 29-point lead — their largest of the game — after a dunk by sophomore center Ivan Njegovan for a 100-71 score at 2:22.
Ohio State was led by Noel in the win with 18 points on 7-of-8 shooting. Senior guard Bruce Thornton (11), Mobley (12), Tilly (14), Royal (13), Bynum (13) and sophomore center Ivan Njegovan (10) also finished with double-digit points while Njegovan had a team-leading six rebounds. Tilly led the team in assists with seven.
The Bobcats were led in the game by Ajay Sheldon and Aiden Hadaway, who both had 14 points.
