Ohio State basketball fell 94-83 to BYU as Jake Diebler addressed defensive breakdowns, foul trouble, and the Buckeyes’ second-half struggles.

Ohio State opened the 2026-27 men’s basketball season with a disappointing 94-83 loss to No. 25 BYU in the Bad Boy Mowers Series in Salt Lake City. The Buckeyes carried a halftime lead into the locker room but surrendered 60 second-half points as defensive breakdowns, foul trouble and missed opportunities prevented Jake Diebler’s team from earning a season-opening victory.

The loss snapped Ohio State’s streak of 23 consecutive season-opening wins and gave Diebler plenty to address before the Buckeyes return to Columbus.

Ohio State’s starting lineup featured third-year guard John Mobley Jr., second-year guard Amare Bynum, five-star freshman Anthony Thompson, Kentucky transfer Andrija Jelavic and former California and Michigan guard Justin Pippen.

BYU countered with a lineup featuring five-star freshman Bruce Branch III, Cincinnati and Syracuse transfer Tyler Betsey, former Michigan State forward Jaxon Kohler, Baylor transfer Robert Wright III and Kentucky transfer Collin Chandler.

The Buckeyes had enough offensive production to compete with the Cougars, but their inability to consistently defend in the second half ultimately determined the outcome.

Ohio State’s Veterans Set the Early Tone

Ohio State started quickly behind Mobley and Bynum, establishing an early advantage with its backcourt playmaking and perimeter shooting. The Buckeyes built a 22-11 lead, with Mobley finding Josh Ojianwuna for a basket that extended the margin.

BYU gradually worked its way back into the game behind Wright, who began finding scoring opportunities against Ohio State’s defense. The Cougars also started connecting from beyond the arc, cutting into the Buckeyes’ advantage as the first half progressed.

Pippen provided an important response late in the half. After Branch III scored his first collegiate basket, Pippen answered with a basket of his own before knocking down consecutive three-pointers from 27 and 25 feet.

The Buckeyes shot efficiently throughout the opening 20 minutes, but their inability to control the offensive glass created additional opportunities for BYU. The Cougars collected six offensive rebounds compared to Ohio State’s two, extending possessions and generating second-chance opportunities.

Turnovers and foul trouble also prevented Ohio State from building a more comfortable lead. Despite controlling much of the first half, the Buckeyes entered the break with only a three-point advantage.

BYU Took Control After Halftime

The second half quickly changed the complexion of the game. BYU scored 16 points in the first four minutes after the break, pressuring Ohio State’s defense and exploiting coverage breakdowns. Bynum responded with a three-pointer before attacking the basket for a transition dunk, keeping the Buckeyes within striking distance.

Mobley and Bynum both dealt with physical setbacks during the second half, but continued trying to generate offense for Ohio State.

The Cougars eventually found their rhythm offensively. Wright continued creating difficult scoring opportunities, while BYU’s frontcourt established a stronger presence around the basket. Its perimeter shooting also improved considerably after a slow start from three-point range.

Ohio State struggled to find consistent answers defensively. Foul trouble forced Diebler to adjust his rotations, and the resulting lineup changes created communication and execution problems. The Cougars capitalized on those mistakes, scoring 60 points after halftime.

Mobley’s departure after fouling out further complicated Ohio State’s offensive efforts. The junior guard had provided much of the team’s playmaking throughout the night, and his absence left the Buckeyes searching for another consistent creator.

Diebler acknowledged that Ohio State’s defensive execution deteriorated as the game progressed, particularly when the coaching staff attempted to adjust its coverage.

“I think we showed what we’re capable of in the first half, and the lack of execution and communication errors certainly became an issue as we started shuffling lineups and things around with the fouls, and we gave them too many easy looks,” Diebler said after the game.

The Ohio State coach also pointed to missed assignments following timeouts as an area that needs immediate improvement.

“We just didn’t quite execute it well enough coming out of some timeouts and stuff,” Diebler said. “But that’s something we got to learn from really quickly and be better at next time.”

The Buckeyes continued competing, but BYU became the more effective team down the stretch. Ohio State struggled to string together defensive stops, and the Cougars consistently converted their opportunities.

Diebler credited BYU with taking advantage of Ohio State’s mistakes rather than letting the Buckeyes recover.

“We had some mental errors, and they made us pay for them,” Diebler said. “Every time we made a mistake, it wasn’t one of those situations where they missed a shot. I mean, they made it. That’s what good teams do.”

Amare Bynum Leads Ohio State’s Individual Efforts

Bynum was one of Ohio State’s biggest positives in the season opener. The sophomore played 35 minutes despite dealing with physical setbacks and finished 7-of-10 from the field while tying his career high with three three-pointers. He also contributed four assists, three rebounds, two blocks, and one steal.

His combination of strength, athleticism and perimeter shooting gives Ohio State an important offensive option as the season progresses.

Diebler has been encouraged by Bynum’s development, particularly his consistency throughout the preseason.

“I’ve been really impressed with his growth, even in the last three weeks,” Diebler said. “He’s been so consistent. We got to keep leaning on him, certainly.”

However, Diebler also identified an area where the sophomore needs to improve. “He’s got to do a better job of playing with poise in the paint,” Diebler said. “He’s so strong and athletic, it gets a little sped up at times.”

Mobley finished with 14 points, seven assists and three rebounds before fouling out. His seven assists demonstrated his ability to create opportunities for teammates, although Diebler expects more from the junior when defenses pressure him.

“I thought he had some tremendous passes and some assists,” Diebler said. “He’s got to read better in the paint too. I have extremely high expectations because I know how smart he is.”

Jelavic also provided an encouraging performance in his first game with the Buckeyes. The Kentucky transfer finished with 13 points and nine rebounds, shooting efficiently around the basket. Pippen added 12 points, including his two important three-pointers late in the first half.

Thompson had a difficult collegiate debut, finishing with two points and no made field goals. The highly regarded freshman had limited opportunities to establish himself offensively, but Diebler remains confident in his ability to contribute.

“We see what he’s capable of in practice quite frequently,” Diebler said. “I think we’re just kind of waiting for that breakout game in front of fans. So he will.”

Diebler explained that Thompson had missed some practice time during the week while working to get healthy enough to play. The coaching staff continues to trust the freshman and expects his practice production to translate into game situations.

Defensive Discipline Must Improve Before UConn

The final numbers tell much of the story. Ohio State shot 49 percent from the field, but BYU converted 54 percent of its attempts and finished with 94 points. The Buckeyes also struggled to contain the Cougars from three-point range as the game progressed.

Foul trouble contributed to the defensive issues, but Diebler placed responsibility on his team’s positioning and discipline rather than blaming the officiating.

“We can’t foul because we’re not in position on time or we’re too deep in our coverage and we end up in some of those scramble moments,” Diebler said. “Those are the ones we have to get rid of.”

Ohio State wants to play physically, but the Buckeyes cannot allow late rotations and communication breakdowns to put them in situations where fouls become necessary.

Despite the result, Diebler saw some positives in the team’s effort and rebounding. He also emphasized that the offense produced enough to give Ohio State a chance to win on the road.

“I love the fight we showed. Guys battled, our rebounding was better,” Diebler said. “There’s a lot of good stuff to come from this. Just not enough good stuff, and we’ll own that and get better at it.”

The Buckeyes now return to Columbus for a Friday night matchup against Youngstown State. Ohio State will also face Marshall before preparing for a major nonconference test against top-five UConn next week.

The loss to BYU exposed several areas that need attention, particularly defensive communication, foul discipline, and execution after halftime. Ohio State showed enough offensive ability to compete against a ranked opponent, but the defense did not hold up over 40 minutes.

Diebler has a short turnaround to address those issues. The Buckeyes will need a much more disciplined defensive effort as the schedule gets tougher.