The Ohio State Men’s Basketball team improved to 3-1 on the year, following a home victory over the Evansville Purple Aces by the score of 80-30.

Much like the start of the game against Texas A&M, it was a defensive slug fest early on. Neither team could knock down a shot and it felt as if every shot taken was contested. Just after the under 8:00 minute TV timeout it was evident Coach Diebler had directed his team to shift their strategy.

Led by Devin Royal’s rebounding and physicality, the Buckeyes began to pass up jump shots and attack the paint. Every offensive sequence was a downhill attack and it resulted in a flurry of free throws. Ohio State flipped the script, mirroring what Texas A&M had done to them just days before. Despite a poor shooting effort, the Buckeyes went into the half with a 28-14 lead, thanks to the charity stripe.

The second half was a completely different story for the Buckeyes. They nearly doubled their first half scoring, totaling 52 points. The defensive tenacity held steady but the lid on the rim was lifted as the points began adding up.

Devin Royal was the leading scorer and MVP of the game. He provided 20 points, 12 rebounds and a steal, showcasing his immense talent and his continued development. Juni Mobley again crossed the double figure mark, adding 11, for the fourth consecutive game.

However, this time his damage wasn’t all from distance, as he showcased his ability to get downhill and draw contact. Meechie Johnson was the only other double figure scorer, adding 13 while hitting 3 3-pointers. Overall, this was a much needed bounce back from their tough loss to A&M.

LOOKING AHEAD:

The Buckeyes are back in action on Friday, November 22nd, when they will host the Campbell Fighting Camels. Tip is slated for 6:00 pm ET with live coverage on BTN.