Nov 11, 2024; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes guard Micah Parrish (8) attempts a shot as Youngstown State Penguins guard Nico Galette (44) defends during the first half at Value City Arena. Mandatory Credit: Joseph Maiorana-Imagn Images
Aaron Bradshaw and John Mobley Jr. each scored 16 points as No. 21 Ohio State earned an 81-47 victory against Youngstown State on Monday night in Columbus, Ohio.
Bruce Thornton scored 12 points, Meechie Johnson added 11 and Sean Stewart added 10 for the Buckeyes (2-0), who led by 15 at halftime and never looked back.
Ohio State was playing as a ranked team for the first time since landing in the top 25 the week of Jan. 2, 2023.
Cris Carroll scored 10 points and Ty Harper and Gabe Dynes each scored nine points for the Penguins (1-1), who made 3 of 22 3-pointers (13.6 percent).
Bradshaw and Stewart had just two points each in the season-opening win against then-No. 19 Texas last Monday, but combined for 15 in the first half against the Penguins.
Mobley, who was 4 of 4 from beyond the arc against the Longhorns, hit his first three 3-pointers of the night against Youngstown State to extend his 3-point streak to seven before recording his first miss from deep.
It was surprising that the Penguins trailed 37-22 at halftime after their epic cold spells. They took a 2-0 lead 16 seconds into the game, but went the next 6:14 without scoring as the Buckeyes scored 12 straight points.
Ohio State’s lead reached 13 points, 27-14, before Youngstown State got within nine, but then went the final 6:34 of the first half without a field goal made. However, the Penguins made five free throws during that period.
Ohio State opened the second half on an 8-2 run to build a 45-24 lead, then led by at least 20 the rest of the way.
Because a power outage on Youngstown State’s campus postponed the Penguins’ season opener against Westminster last Monday, the team will begin the season with six consecutive road games for the first time in program history.
–Field level media
