Ohio State men’s basketball opened its preseason with authority in Puerto Rico.
Facing two select teams made up of professional players from the island, the Buckeyes rolled to a pair of decisive victories, winning by an average of 40 points. The results offered an early look at a rebuilt roster under Jake Diebler and showed promising signs of balance, depth, and shooting.
Game 1: Ohio State 117, Los Boris 1 75
Ohio State wasted little time asserting control in the first exhibition, pulling away for a 42-point win. Eleven different Buckeyes scored at least six points, highlighting the kind of shared production the staff wants to see.
Duquesne transfer wing Jimmie Williams led the way with 20 points on an efficient 6-of-7 shooting from three-point range in under 17 minutes. Five-star freshman forward Anthony Thompson added 14 points and seven rebounds. Junior guard John Mobley Jr. scored 13, Cal transfer Justin Pippen dropped 12, and Memphis transfer Curtis Givens III finished with 11.
Center Ivan Njegovan controlled the glass with 10 rebounds and added eight points. Guard Amare Bynum filled the box score with six points, a team-high seven assists, and three steals, also providing one of the game’s highlight-reel plays with a fast-break dunk.
Ohio State shot 55.4 percent from the field and an impressive 48.8 percent from three (21-of-43). The Buckeyes recorded 33 assists on 41 made field goals and committed only seven turnovers.
Game 2: Ohio State 111, Los Boris 2 73
The second game produced another lopsided result. Six Buckeyes reached double figures as Ohio State again dictated tempo and shared the ball effectively.
John Mobley Jr. paced the team with 17 points. Amare Bynum followed with 16 points and five assists. Justin Pippen added 14 points and five assists, while Anthony Thompson scored 13. Jimmie Williams and LJ Smith each contributed 10 points.
Ivan Njegovan again dominated the boards with 13 rebounds. The Buckeyes scored 52 points in the paint and piled up 37 fast-break points, showing improved transition play.
Ohio State shot 53.1 percent from the field and 43.6 percent from beyond the arc. The team forced 19 turnovers and converted them into 27 points.
What Stood Out for the Buckeyes
Several themes emerged across the two games:
- Balanced scoring — Multiple players stepped up in both contests, reducing reliance on any single option.
- Three-point shooting — The Buckeyes combined for 38 made threes across the two games.
- Ball movement — Assist totals stayed high (33 and 30), reflecting unselfish play.
- Depth — Bench production was significant, and several transfers and newcomers made immediate impacts.
- Rebounding presence — Njegovan consistently controlled the glass.
Josh Ojianwuna, still working his way back from an ACL tear, saw limited but encouraging minutes in the second game. Coach Jake Diebler has indicated the big man is fully cleared but is being eased back carefully.
Looking Ahead
These exhibitions against professional competition provided valuable early reps. Ohio State will continue its preseason with additional games against Cincinnati and Butler in October before the regular season begins.
For a roster featuring multiple new faces, the Puerto Rico trip offered a chance to build chemistry and evaluate combinations in a competitive setting. The results were encouraging: efficient offense, shared scoring, and clear physical advantages.
Discover more from Allsportsreports
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
