Ohio State huddles before their game against No. 23 Texas A&M. The Buckeyes fell to the Aggies 78-64 in College Station Friday at Reed Arena. Credit: Ohio State Athletics
After a hot start to the season from behind the three-point line for Ohio State, that fire was extinguished Friday as the Buckeyes shot a mere 26.7% from three.
After a quick three-pointer from guard Bruce Thornton to open the game, Ohio State went nearly six and a half minutes before its next basket. During the Buckeye drought, Texas A&M scored 15 straight to take a 13-point lead, which proved to be insurmountable for Ohio State.
The No. 21 Buckeyes (2-1) dropped their first game of the season to No. 23 Texas A&M (3-1), 78-64, in College Station, Texas.
Ohio State drew within six with 6:30 to go behind 3-pointers from guards John Mobley Jr. and Ques Glover.
Nine first-half points by guard Wade Taylor IV helped the Aggies hold on to a 31-22 lead heading into the break.
The second half opened with a 6-0 Texas A&M run as Ohio State failed to get back in the scoring column for the first two minutes.
After converting a jumper on the other end, Ohio State guard Micah Parrish was called for a flagrant one foul after a hard collision with an Aggie player on a box out. The ensuing free throws put Texas A&M ahead by 15 with 17 minutes to go.
Texas A&M forward Solomon Washington knocked down two free throws after the flagrant to extend the lead to 15.
A big three-pointer by guard CJ Wilcher extended the Aggies’ lead to 18.
A pair of Thornton free throws cut the Buckeyes’ lead to 11 but after Aggies guard Manny Obaseki responded with an and-one layup, the Texas A&M was back up to 14.
In all, the Aggies got to the free throw line 40 times compared to 22 for the Buckeyes.
The next matchup for the Buckeyes will be back home against the Evansville Aces. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. on Nov. 19 at Value City Arena in Columbus.
