Ohio State led wire-to-wire in an impressive 80-72 upset victory over the 19th-ranked Texas Longhorns on Monday night. Bruce Thornton was a standout performer, contributing 20 points to secure the win for the Buckeyes.
Micah Parrish also made a significant impact, adding 17 points and grabbing six rebounds. The Buckeyes maintained control throughout the game, showcasing their offensive prowess with a shooting percentage of 55.6% in the second half.
Devin Royal contributed 16 points, while John Mobley Jr. provided valuable support off the bench with 14 points, helping Ohio State achieve a remarkable 33-10 edge in bench scoring.
For Texas, freshman Tre Johnson shined as the leading scorer with 29 points and five rebounds. Despite his efforts, the Longhorns struggled, with Arthur Kaluma and Kadin Shedrick each netting 10 points. The rest of the team combined for a disappointing 7-of-29 (24.1%) shooting performance.
Takeaways
The Buckeyes established a commanding 15-point lead in the first half, starting strong with a shooting percentage of 50% (10-of-20), including an impressive 9-of-12 from beyond the arc.
On the other hand, the Longhorns faced a setback, having previously won 21 of their last 22 season openers before this defeat.
Key Moment
A pivotal moment occurred when Texas narrowed the gap to four points early in the second half. Ohio State’s Evan Mahaffey responded by securing a defensive rebound and converting it into a layup on the other end. This sparked a 9-3 run, boosting the Buckeyes’ confidence and allowing them to regain a 49-39 lead.
Key Stat
15 – Tre Johnson demonstrated remarkable composure in his college debut, scoring 15 points in the first half alone on 6-of-13 shooting, including 3-of-6 from three-point range, keeping the Longhorns competitive.
Up Next
Looking ahead, Ohio State will host Youngstown State on Monday, while Texas will kick off its home schedule on Friday against Houston Christian.
