The Buckeyes players and staff celebrate after a 80-72 season-opening win over the Texas Longhorns in Las Vegas, NV on Monday. Credit: Ohio State Athletics
Just 13 seconds into Friday’s game against the Texas Longhorns, Ohio State jumped ahead behind a Bruce Thornton 3-pointer and never looked back.
In a game where the Buckeyes led for all 40 minutes, Ohio State (1-0) downed No. 19 Texas (0-1) 80-72 with 50% shooting from beyond the arc at the Hall of Fame Series in Las Vegas.
“I felt the collective toughness,” Ohio State head coach Jake Diebler said. “We stayed true to our principles on both sides.”
The Buckeyes scored the game’s first eight points, courtesy of their guards. A 3-pointer by Thornton, as well as a 3-pointer and mid-range jumper from guard Micah Parrish, got the offense going.
The Buckeyes opened the game shooting 6-of-10 from the field. Heading into the break, Parrish and guard John Mobley Jr. led the Buckeyes’ scoring in the first half with nine points apiece, as Ohio State took a 38-31 lead.
Forward Devin Royal opened the second half with an explosive dunk. But the Longhorns responded and didn’t let the Buckeyes pull too far ahead.
With just under 10 minutes to go, Texas guard Tre Johnson was fouled by Thornton on a 3-pointer attempt. Johnson connected on all three free throws to cut the Buckeyes’ lead down to just five.
Royal, however, answered with a second-chance layup on the offensive end and restored Ohio State’s lead to seven.
A dunk flushed down by Longhorns forward Kadin Shedrick made it a three-point game with 7:34 remaining.
But it was a pull-up 3-pointer by Parrish that stretched the Buckeyes’ lead back to a two possessions.
With five minutes to go, Johnson converted on another 3-pointer to cut Texas’ deficit to single digits.
To close out the final minutes, Thornton notched 11 of the Buckeyes’ last 13 points to put the game out of reach for the Longhorns. He led the way for the Buckeyes’ win, recording a team-high 20 points and five assists.
Ohio State has a week of rest before its next matchup against the Youngstown State Penguins at Value City Arena 6 p.m. Monday. Big Ten Network will broadcast the game.
