by COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Ohio State University Men’s Basketball program started their 2025-26 campaign with an exhibition game versus Ohio University on Sunday, October 26th. The Buckeyes defeated the Bobcats in a commanding fashion, with a final score of 103-74. Despite this game having no implications for either program’s record, it was still an important intra-state matchup against two highly respected NCAA Division 1 college basketball programs in the state of Ohio.
The first half showed a strong effort from both teams, as they came out looking to throw the first punch. The Ohio State Buckeyes would jump out of the gates on a 12-4 run to open the game, forcing Ohio to call a timeout. This opening run included a pair of brackets by graduate transfer 6’8” forward Brandon Noel, who capitalized on the early run with a powerful dunk. Junior 6’6” forward Devin Royal also got in on the action with a strong dunk during the segment.
Following the time out, Ohio would knock down their first three-pointer of the game, coming from 6’8” senior forward Aidan Hadaway as the Bobcats made a little run, getting the game tied back at 12 off another three-point basket, this time from 6’1” senior guard Ajay Sheldon.
Once the game was tied at 12, both teams started to trade baskets as we made our way halfway through the first half. The Bobcats would actually take the lead, 18-16, off a layup by Ajay Sheldon, as the Bobcats showed they had come to The Schottenstein Center to compete with the heavily favored Buckeyes. Both teams began to trade baskets as the lead started to swing back and forth between the two Ohio programs. During the segment, 6’1” sophomore shooting guard John Mobley Jr. would knock down a three-pointer as the Buckeyes retook the narrow 26-24 lead. Just inside of eight minutes to go in the first half, Devil Royal would hit his first three of the afternoon as the Buckeyes extended their narrow lead to 29-24. This basket would lead to an Ohio Bobcats timeout.
Coming out of the timeout, Aiden Hadaway was rewarded three free throws after drawing a foul on his three-point attempt prior to the timeout. Hadaway made all three free throws, cutting the deficit to 29-27 in favor of the Buckeyes. The Ohio State Buckeyes began to convert their looks as they started to create their first small lead. The Ohio Bobcats would continue to fight to keep this exhibition close as Ajay Sheldon converted a three-pointer, making the score 33-30 with just over six minutes left in the first half.
This would mark another sequence where both teams started to trade buckets with each other. Off a Bobcats turnover, 6’2” senior point guard Bruce Thornton made a three-pointer to once again give Ohio State a small 38-32 advantage. This basket was the first of an 11-0 run for the Buckeyes as they looked to create separation from the Bobcats before the half. Ohio’s Ajay Sheldon would hit a three-pointer to stem the run for Ohio State as the Bobcats made a small push right before the half.
Just outside of two minutes left in the first half, 7’0” transfer senior center Christoph Tilly would convert a layup to push the lead to double digits for the Buckeyes. Ohio State would then close out the first half with a 9-2 run to push their advantage to 52-37 at the break.
The second half would start out with Ohio snapping the 9-2 run by the Buckeyes behind an Ajay Sheldon 3-point basket to trim the deficit to 52-40 for Ohio. Despite the fight shown by the Bobcats, the Buckeyes continued to answer Ohio’s baskets with their own, extending their lead. Sophomore 6’6” guard Collin White was able to make a layup right at the 17-minute mark of the second, extending the Buckeye lead to 58-44.
Nothing came easily for the Bobcats in the second half, as they shot the ball at 33.3% from the field and 31.6% from three-point range, while the Buckeyes’ defense continued to grow more confident with every miss. With just under 16 minutes, Brandon Noel would convert a layup, giving the Buckeyes a 60-45 lead over the Bobcats. Despite the Buckeyes being in control of the scoreboard, Ohio continued to battle as 6’3” senior guard Dior Conners would make a timely three-pointer, cutting the deficit to 64-52 with just under 14 minutes left in the game.
During another 8-0 run, Ohio State’s 6’8” freshman forward Amare Bynum would then blow the game open, hitting a three-pointer, creating a significant cushion up 20 at 72-52. The young forward had a stellar showing, hitting 3 three-pointers in the second half.
Despite a poor shooting day, Ohio’s senior guard Jackson Paveletzke would hit a three-pointer, cutting the Ohio State lead to 74-59 as we got closer to halfway through the final period.
The rest of the game, Ohio State was in firm control as both teams cleared their benches with 5:28 left in regulation. A few bench players would earn the spotlight for the Buckeyes as 6’4” redshirt sophomore Taison Chatman, 7’2” sophomore Ivan Njegovan, 6’2” redshirt sophomore Gabe Cupps, and 6’4” Braylen Nash would all score inside the final five minutes of the contest.
Statistically, both teams were surprisingly very close in both halves, despite what the final score would indicate. The biggest difference in the game was that the Buckeyes shot 60.3% from the field compared to the Bobcats shooting only 35.8% from the field. Ohio State also shot the ball better from distance at 40.0 3P% for the game compared to the Bobcats at 27.0 3P%. The Buckeyes also won the points in the paint, 50-24, and bench points, 35-27. There were seven players who got into double-digit scoring for the Buckeyes, as Brandon Noel led the way with 18 points on an impressive 7-8 from the field. For the Bobcats, Aiden Hadaway and Ajay Sheldon both led in scoring with 14 points, and each hit a three-pointer in the contest.
With the win, the Ohio State Buckeyes will look to build on their one exhibition game as they shift all their focus to the regular season tip-off versus non-conference opponent IU Indianapolis on November 3rd at 6:30 P.M. in The Schottenstein Center.
For the Ohio Bobcats, they get to break down the tape and see what they did well versus a top-tier Big Ten opponent in their second exhibition game. The Ohio Bobcats will be back in action Monday, November 3rd, versus Arkansas State for their first regular-season game at home inside the Convocation Center.
