Ohio State Dominates Mount St. Mary's, Improves to 6-0

Buckeyes Continue Strong Start with Convincing Win

The Ohio State Buckeyes men's basketball team continued their impressive start to the 2025-26 season with a dominant performance against Mount St. Mary's on Tuesday night at Value City Arena. The Buckeyes secured a convincing victory, improving their record to an unblemished 6-0 as they prepare for a challenging stretch of games against Power Five opponents.

Tip-off was set for 6:30 p.m. ET and televised on the Big Ten Network, with fans eager to see if the Buckeyes could maintain their momentum after routing Western Michigan 91-58 just days earlier. The matchup against the Mountaineers (1-5) served as the final game of Ohio State's six-game homestand to open the season.

Key Performances Lead the Way

Ohio State's balanced attack has been a hallmark of their early-season success, and that trend continued against Mount St. Mary's. Five Buckeye players reached double figures in their previous victory, and the team demonstrated similar depth against the Mountaineers.

Senior guard Bruce Thornton continued his stellar season, leading the team with 22.4 points per game. Thornton has made multiple three-pointers in every game this season and is climbing Ohio State's career scoring list, currently in 12th place with 1,599 career points.

Center Christoph Tilly has emerged as a dominant force in the paint, averaging 17.0 points per game while shooting an impressive 79.3 percent on two-point attempts. His versatility was on display as he also contributed 19 assists, second-most on the team behind John Mobley Jr.

Sophomore guard John Mobley Jr. has been another key contributor, averaging 15.0 points per game while maintaining perfect accuracy at the free throw line (20-of-21). His ability to create opportunities for teammates has been crucial to Ohio State's success.

Bench Production and Statistical Dominance

One of the most encouraging signs for the Buckeyes has been the production from their bench. Against Western Michigan, eleven of the twelve players who saw action scored, and similar contributions were expected against Mount St. Mary's.

Freshman Amare Bynum continues to exceed expectations, recording a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds against Western Michigan – career highs for the young forward. His development has provided valuable depth to an already talented roster.

Statistically, Ohio State has been impressive across the board, averaging 88.4 points per game while allowing just 68.8 points per contest. The Buckeyes rank 15th nationally in rebounding differential, securing 35.6 boards per game while allowing only 25.4.

Mount St. Mary's Provides Final Tune-Up

For Mount St. Mary's, the game represented another challenging matchup against a Power Five opponent. The Mountaineers entered the contest with a 1-5 record, their lone victory coming over St. Francis (Pa.).

Despite their struggles, Mount St. Mary's has shown flashes of competitiveness, particularly in their overtime loss to Maryland (95-90) where they shot 47 percent from three-point range. Guard Arlandus Keyes has been their leading scorer, averaging 13.5 points per game.

The series history between these programs is limited, with Ohio State winning both previous meetings in 1989 and 2015, both contested in Columbus.

Tough Stretch Ahead

This victory serves as a final tune-up for Ohio State before they embark on a demanding stretch of five consecutive games against Power Five opponents. The challenging road begins with a matchup at Pittsburgh on Friday, November 28, followed by games at Northwestern, home against No. 8 Illinois, and contests against West Virginia and No. 16 North Carolina.

Coach Jake Diebler, now 30-18 in his career as a head coach, has his team playing confident basketball as they prepare for the gauntlet ahead. With home dominance (21-7 record) and success against unranked opponents (25-10), the Buckeyes appear well-positioned to navigate the difficult portion of their schedule.

As Ohio State looks to build on their strong start, the focus will be on maintaining their defensive intensity and continuing to develop their bench depth for the rigorous tests that lie ahead in the coming weeks.