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Replay: Ohio State Buckeyes top No. 19 Texas Longhorns in opener
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- Replay: Ohio State Buckeyes top No. 19 Texas Longhorns in opener
LAS VEGAS − It's time to get the season started.
Inside T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, the Buckeyes and No. 19 Texas are playing one of only three games featuring a ranked team against another high-major opponent.
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It's the earliest game to open a season in Ohio State men's basketball history, and only the third time the Buckeyes have opened with a ranked foe. It's also the first game of Jake Diebler's first full season as Ohio State's coach after earning the job as the Buckeyes went 8-3 with him in charge to close last season.
The Buckeyes are led by junior guard Bruce Thornton, a captain in each of his first two seasons and the team's leader in minutes played both seasons as well. He's done a lot at Ohio State, but one thing has eluded him: winning .
Here are the keys to the season for the Buckeyes as everything gets started . The Dispatch has you covered with live updates from T-Mobile Arena.
Mar 3, 2024; Columbus, OH, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes forward Devin Royal (21) dribbles around Michigan Wolverines forward Tray Jackson (2) during their NCAA Division I Mens basketball game at Value City Arena.
Ohio State never trails, beats No. 19 Texas
The Buckeyes scored on their first possession and never trailed in a decisive, 80-72 win against the No. 19 Longhorns on Monday night.
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Ohio State (1-0) led by as many as 15 points during the first half and had that lead cut to three points on six occasions but never gave it up in handing the Longhorns (0-1) a season-opening loss. Bruce Thornton led the Buckeyes with 20 points while Micah Parrish had 17 and Devin Royal finished with 16.
Texas' Tre Johnson led all scorers with 29.
The Buckeyes return to the court Nov. 11 for their home opener against Youngstown State.
Entering final timeout, Ohio State leads Texas
Junior guard Bruce Thornton hasn't had to do much heavy lifting, but he just delivered a big bucket in the closing minutes. With Ohio State ahead 71-64 after Texas scored five straight, Thornton got into the paint but found 6-3 guard Chendall Weaver in his way. Thornton pivoted, got to his left hand and laid the ball off the backboard while being fouled.
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The basket gives Ohio State a 73-64 lead with 3:59 to play and a free throw pending. Thornton has 13 points, five rebounds and five assists.
3-point shooting has Ohio State in control in final minutes
After going 3 for 20 from 3 as a freshman, Devin Royal is 2 for 4 from deep against Texas and hit a corner 3 to force a Texas timeout with 5:10 left and Ohio State ahead 71-59.
The Buckeyes are on a 10-1 run keyed by Royal and Micah Parrish. The latter hit a 3-pointer to put Ohio State ahead 64-58, then dished to Royal to make it 66-58. After a Bruce Thornton floater, Royal's 3 pushed the lead to 12.
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Devin Royal's offensive putback stops Texas run
Ohio State's sophomore forward started the second half in place of Sean Stewart and has come up with two big buckets for the Buckeyes. Ahead 57-52, Royal collected a Micah Parrish miss at the rim for a putback to make it a three-possession lead with a little more than nine minutes to play.
Then, with the lead down to 59-56, Royal nabbed a loose ball along the left baseline after Parrish lost the handle on a drive and flicked it into the net to give Ohio State a 61-56 lead at the under-8 media timeout with 7:35 left.
Royal is up to 11 points.
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Ohio State holding onto lead as midpoint nears
The Buckeyes went ahead 51-40 as John Mobley Jr. hit two free throws with 13:59 left, but Ohio State has followed that with three empty possessions as Texas has again cut the deficit to seven points at 51-44 with 11:53 left.
The Longhorns have missed eight of their last nine shots and are shooting only 32.6% for the game.
Aaron Bradshaw scores his first Ohio State points
It was a difficult first half for Ohio State's post players, and for Bradshaw in particular. One rebound, three missed shots and two fouls were all the 7-1 center had to show for the first half of his Ohio State career, but he scored his first career points with a dunk off a nice dish from Micah Parrish at the 16:31 mark of the second half.
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Texas briefly cut Ohio State's seven-point halftime lead to four points, but the Buckeyes lead 46-39 with 15:26 left in the game. Parrish has 11 points, four rebounds and four assists for Ohio State.
Ohio State leads Texas at halftime
After leading by as many as 15 points during the first half, Ohio State takes a seven-point advantage into the locker room. The Buckeyes have not trailed against the Longhorns.
Ohio State has done its damage from deep. The Buckeyes are 10 for 17 from 3-point range but only 2 for 16 from inside the arc.
Micah Parrish and John Mobley Jr. each have 9 points to lead the Buckeyes. Texas' Tre Johnson, a 6-6 freshman guard, leads all scorers with 15 points.
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Texas cuts into Ohio State's lead
Sean Stewart hit two free throws with 6:24 left in the first half to push Ohio State's lead to a game-high 15 points at 33-18 and cap a 12-0 run for the Buckeyes, but the Longhorns have clawed back in the final minutes of the first half.
A putback from Kadin Shedrick snapped an 0-for-10 stretch for Texas and made it 33-20. It was the start of a 6-0 run that pulled the Longhorns within 33-24 at the under-4 media timeout.
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - NOVEMBER 04: Meechie Johnson Jr. #1 of the Ohio State Buckeyes drives against Jordan Pope #0 of the Texas Longhorns in the first half of their game during the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame Series at T-Mobile Arena on November 04, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
John Mobley Jr. showcases his range
Ohio State's freshman guard walked onto campus with a reputation as a dangerous 3-point shooter. He furthered it during practice, being named the team's best shooter in a poll of his teammates.
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He wasted no time showing that at the Division I level. Mobley's first shot of his career was a 3-pointer from basically the Hall of Fame logo at center court, and he swished it with 13:03 remaining in the first half to give the Buckeyes a 20-13 lead.
Mobley then buried two more, another from well beyond the arc, to force a Texas timeout with 8:27 left to give the freshman 9 points.
Ohio State opens the season hot from 3-point range
The first made basket of the season came just 13 seconds into the game when Bruce Thornton gave a head fake, took one dribble and swished a 3-pointer for the early lead.
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It sparked an 8-0 run to open the game as Micah Parrish added a jumper and a 3-pointer of his own. Meechie Johnson and Devin Royal both added 3-pointers of their own, giving Ohio State a 14-7 lead at the first media timeout.
Greg Oden in the crowd
Greg Oden, the No. 1 pick in the 2007 NBA Draft after one season with the Buckeyes, is in attendance to watch his alma mater. Oden was just inducted into Ohio State's athletics hall of fame .
Who is starting for the Ohio State Buckeyes and Texas Longhorns?
Here are the starting lineups for Monday night's game:
Ohio State
Bruce Thornton, Meechie Johnson Jr., Micah Parrish, Sean Stewart and Aaron Bradshaw
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Texas
Jordan Pope, Chendall Weaver, Tre Johnson, Kadin Shedrick, Arthur Kaluma
Ohio State's players have arrived at T-Mobile Arena
Before playing against Texas, Ohio State's players entered the arena via the loading dock and stopped to autograph a mural for the event, which features No. 1 South Carolina against Michigan in the first game of the evening.
The Buckeyes then walked a "red carpet" to get to their locker room.
Kalen Etzler out for Ohio State
The Buckeyes have had multiple players miss time here and there throughout the summer and fall, but they will be down just one unexpected player for the opener.
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Sophomore guard Taison Chatman , who suffered a torn ACL during the spring and is out for the season, is out. Junior wing Kalen Etzler is also watching the game in street clothes. The Buckeyes played their charity exhibition game against Cincinnati without sophomore center Aaron Bradshaw and two undisclosed players sat out the closed, "secret" scrimmage against Ohio University.
Ohio State Buckeyes vs Texas Longhorns betting odds
Game lines and odds from BetMGM as of Monday, Nov. 4
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Spread:Ohio State (+2.5)
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Over/under:145.5
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Moneyline:Buckeyes +125, Longhorns -150
Ohio State Buckeyes news
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Ohio State embracing showcase opportunity in Las Vegas
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With rebuilt staff, roster, Jake Diebler hopes to return winning culture to Ohio State
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Did you see our Ohio State preseason power rankings ?
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Ohio State's Meechie Johnson aiming for storybook ending to emotional career
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How healthy is Ohio State basketball as season approaches? Jake Diebler updates the latest
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A kid at heart: Ohio State's Devin Royal gives back to Pickerington
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On 'back nine' of career, Dave Dickerson returns to Ohio State with emotional purpose
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Ohio State Buckeyes 2024-25 schedule, record
Here's a look at the Buckeyes' schedule, along with start times, television, and radio information of upcoming games:
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Monday, Nov. 4:Ohio State vs Texas | 10 p.m. | TNT | 97.1 FM
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Monday, Nov. 11: Ohio State vs Youngstown State | 6 p.m. | BTN | 97.1 FM
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Friday, Nov. 15: Ohio State at Texas A&M | 9 p.m. | SEC Network | 97.1 FM
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Tuesday, Nov. 19: Ohio State vs Evansville | 7 p.m. | B1G+ | 97.1 FM
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Friday, Nov. 22: Ohio State vs Campbell | 6 p.m. | BTN | 97.1 FM
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Monday, Nov. 25: Ohio State vs Green Bay | 7 p.m. | BTN | 97.1 FM
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Friday, Nov. 29: Ohio State vs Pittsburgh | 2:30 p.m. | Peacock | 97.1 FM
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November Record:0-0
Ohio State Buckeyes vs Texas Longhorns records
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Records:Ohio State 0-0; No. 19 Texas 0-0. This is the second meeting between the teams. Ohio State won 71-65 on March 17, 1986, in an NIT game in Columbus.
How can I watch/listen to Ohio State Buckeyes vs Texas Longhorns?
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TV channel:TNT
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Streaming:TNT mobile app, Sling TV
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Radio:97.1 FM
Ohio State Buckeyes vs Texas Longhorns start time
Date:Monday, Nov. 4
Time:10 p.m. ET
Location:T-Mobile Arena (Las Vegas)
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This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Replay: Ohio State Buckeyes beat No. 19 Texas in opener
