Buckeyes Open Season with Report-Setting Win Over IU Indy

COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Ohio State males’s basketball workforce formally opened the 2025-26 season Monday night time at Value City Arena with a record-setting efficiency, defeating IU Indy, 118–102.

Overall, Ohio State managed the sport on each ends of the ground, taking pictures effectively and setting the tone early behind a balanced offensive assault. The Buckeyes shot 63 p.c from the sector and used dimension and tempo to create constant scoring alternatives inside. The 118 factors set a brand new program file for many factors in a season opener and probably the most factors in a sport at Value City Arena.

Individually, Ohio State was led by senior guard Bruce Thornton (Fairburn, Ga.), who scored 26 factors, including 5 rebounds and 4 assists whereas surpassing the 1,500-point milestone for his profession. Thornton now ranks nineteenth all-time in program historical past in scoring, shifting previous Jae’Sean Tate (1,512). Senior middle Christoph Tilly (Berlin, Germany) posted a career-high 28 factors, together with 9 rebounds, three assists, and a block on 9-of-11 taking pictures.

Junior ahead Devin Royal (Pickerington, Ohio) added 22 factors and eight rebounds, marking three Buckeyes with 20 or extra factors. Brandon Noel (Lucasville, Ohio) contributed six factors and 10 rebounds, surpassing 800 profession rebounds. Sophomore John Mobley Jr. (Reynoldsburg, Ohio) completed with 16 factors and a career-high tying eight assists, whereas freshman Amare Bynum (Omaha, Neb.) added six factors off the bench. 

After buying and selling baskets early, the Buckeyes closed the primary half robust and entered the locker room with a 66–50 lead. 

The Buckeyes’ depth and vitality carried by the second half, because the workforce’s frontcourt continued to dominate across the rim. Ohio State prolonged its result in as many as 22 factors, by no means trailing after the opening minutes. IU Indy was led by Kameron Tinsley with 22 factors and Kyler D’Augustino with 21.

Three Buckeyes scored 20-plus factors within the sport for the primary time since 2019, and the 118 factors have been this system’s most in a single sport since scoring 121 towards George Mason in 1995. The Buckeyes additionally made 42 of 53 free throw makes an attempt, which can be a brand new program single-game file. 

Up Next

Ohio State stays at residence on Friday, Nov. 7, when the Buckeyes host Purdue Fort Wayne. Tip-off is scheduled for six:30 p.m. ET, and the sport will probably be broadcast dwell on the B1G Network. Tickets could be bought at OhioStateBuckeyes.com.

#GoBucks