The Buckeyes must eat cupcakes by beating these soft opponents in non-conference play. The Buckeyes overcame a slow start to beat Appalachian State last night, 75-53. The Buckeyes, who are now 3-0, scored just 10 points in the first 13 minutes of the game. They then went on a 42-10 run fueled by stout play on both ends of the floor to pull away from Appalachian State (2-2) in the victory.
Power Forward Brandon Noel led Ohio State by scoring 17 points. He added a game-high 11 rebounds for his first Buckeye double-double. Guard John Mobley Jr. scored 16 points, and Bruce Thornton scored 13. How do you think the Buckeyes will do when they face more difficult competition?
Buckeyes Defeat Mountaineers 75-53
First Half
It was cold outside the Schottenstein Center, where the Buckeyes beat Appalachian State, 75-53. Ohio State started cold, so maybe the players were outside just before the game. The Buckeyes started 1-of-13 from the field and 0-of-8 from downtown before freshman Forward Amare Bynum had a putback dunk to break the streak. Appalachian State built a lead in the meantime, going up 12-4 in the opening stretches.
Ohio State managed just four points over the next 5:52 of gametime. Mountaineer Guard Jason Clarke Jr. and Forward Andrin Njock both scored, building an 8-2 run that placed Appalachian State ahead 22-10 and brought a few boo birds. However, the Buckeyes finally scored. It started with five points from Noel, including Ohio State’s first 3-pointer after it started the game 0-for-11.
Appalachian State was held scoreless by the Buckeyes in the final 5:29 of the half. That sparked a 15-0 run for Ohio State. Mobley scored eight straight points during the stretch. Thornton canned a buzzer-beating triple from the left corner to put OSU ahead 30-25 entering halftime.
Second Half
Cristoph Tilly converted a three-point play to make it an 18-0 run for the Buckeyes between the two halves. Appalachian State strung five points together, then Ohio State went on another run, this one 8-0. That was capped by a three-point play from Thornton.
The Buckeyes and Mountaineers then traded points for much of the second half. Then Thornton hit a three-pointer to put Ohio State up 71-44 with 3:18 to play. The game was essentially over.
For the game, the Buckeyes only hit 40% of their field goals. Appalachian State hit only 36% of its field goals. Ohio State won the rebounding battle 39-31 in this game.
News and Notes
There were a couple of notes from this game.
- Small Forward Devin Royal missed the game for Ohio State after he was injured against Purdue Fort Wayne.
- Noel’s 17 points were an Ohio State high for the Wright State transfer, and this was his first game in double-figures.
- After turning the ball over 35 times in their first two wins over IU Indianapolis and Purdue-Fort Wayne, the Buckeyes had just four turnovers against the Mountaineers.
Conclusion
The downturn in Buckeye turnovers is a good thing, as things are about to get much more difficult. After fattening up on three cupcakes, Ohio State will host Notre Dame on Saturday at 12:30 at Value City Arena. Ohio State is 3-1 all-time against Notre Dame; they won their last meeting in 2020, 90-85. Ohio State will need to take care of the ball against this more difficult opponent.
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