Ohio State got the 2024-2025 college basketball season started in a big way, as the Buckeyes upset No. 19 Texas 80-72 in Las Vegas on Monday night.

The Buckeyes took control of the game from the very beginning, as they started the game on an 8-0 run in the first 88 seconds of the game. The Longhorns would battle back at times to make it close, but Ohio State was able to lead the entire game.

 

One area where Ohio State had a a big advantage was from the 3-point line. The Buckeyes shot 14-of-28 from deep, while the Longhorns shot only 7-of-28.

Junior guard Bruce Thornton was the leading scorer returning from last year’s team, and he had a big game with 20 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists. The Buckeyes also got a big game from freshman John Mobley Jr., who scored 14 points on 4-of-6 from the 3-point line.

Jake Diebler became the interim coach late last season, and he quickly turned the Buckeyes season around. In his first game last year, the Buckeyes knocked off then No. 2 Purdue 73-69. Ohio State finished the season 8-3 in their final 11 games under Diebler before he was awarded the permanent job, and the Buckeyes built off that in a big way with the win against the Longhorns.

The Buckeyes will be back in action next Monday when they host Youngstown State.