Ohio State Looks to Bounce Back Against Grambling State Before Holiday Break
Before the Ohio State men’s basketball team can settle in for a well-earned 10-day holiday break, there’s one more piece of business to take care of. The Buckeyes return to Value City Arena on Tuesday afternoon for a non-conference matchup against Grambling State, tipping off at 2 p.m. ET on Big Ten Network.
Ohio State enters this one at 8-3 overall, still smarting from a tough 71-70 loss to North Carolina in the CBS Sports Classic this past Saturday in Atlanta. It was a game that could’ve gone either way, and for most of the final minute, it looked like it would swing the Buckeyes’ way. But a late turnover against the Tar Heels’ press flipped the script, and UNC capitalized, scoring the final four points to escape with the win.
Despite the loss, there were some bright spots for Ohio State. Freshman forward Devin Royal led the way with 18 points and eight rebounds, continuing to show why he’s one of the more intriguing young pieces on this roster. He was one of five Buckeyes to finish in double figures-an encouraging sign of offensive balance, even in defeat.
Bruce Thornton, the steady-handed guard who’s been the engine of this offense all season, added 16 points along with four rebounds and four assists. John Mobley Jr. chipped in with 13 points, four assists, and three boards, while Christoph Tilly posted a double-double (12 points, 10 rebounds) and Amare Bynum, making his first career start, made the most of it with 11 points and six rebounds.
But the stat sheet also revealed some areas that need tightening up. The Buckeyes went just 4-of-20 from beyond the arc-an icy 20% clip that made it tough to create separation.
They were also outscored in second-chance points (14-7), fast break points (10-5), and bench points (15-0). Against a team like North Carolina, those margins matter.
And they proved costly.
Now, the focus shifts to Grambling State, a 5-6 team that just snapped a five-game skid with back-to-back wins over Norfolk State and Hampton at the Toyota Chris Paul HBCU Classic in Georgia. The Tigers are coming in with some momentum, and while they may not have the name-brand recognition of recent opponents, they’ve shown they can compete when given the opportunity.
For Ohio State, this is a chance to reset, clean up some of the late-game execution issues, and head into the break on a high note. It’s also another opportunity for the young core-Royal, Mobley, Bynum-to continue growing in real game situations.
After Tuesday, the Buckeyes won’t be back in action until Friday, January 2, when they return to Big Ten play with a road trip to Rutgers. That game will kick off a crucial stretch of conference matchups that will help define the trajectory of their season.
But first, it’s about taking care of business at home.
Game Info: Grambling State at Ohio State
- Where: Value City Arena, Columbus, OH
- When: Tuesday, 2 p.m.
ET
- TV: Big Ten Network (Jason Ross Jr. and Earl Watson on the call)
- Radio: OSU Radio Network, WBNS-FM 97.1 The Fan (Paul Keels and Ron Stokes)
- Records: Ohio State: 8-3 overall, 1-1 Big Ten Grambling State: 5-6 overall
- Rankings: Both teams currently unranked
For Ohio State, this one’s about getting back on track, finding rhythm before the Big Ten grind resumes, and closing out the non-conference slate with a statement.