Ohio State extended its winning streak to three games with an 83-64 victory over Penn State on Thursday night in State College, Pennsylvania.
Key Performers
John Mobley Jr. led the Buckeyes with 19 points, while Bruce Thornton added 17 points, with 11 of them coming in the second half. Devin Royal contributed 15 points and eight rebounds, and Micah Parrish chipped in 12 points for Ohio State (13-8, 5-5 Big Ten).
For Penn State (13-9, 3-8 Big Ten), Yanic Konan Niederhauser led the team with 21 points, followed by Zach Hicks with 13 points. Ace Baldwin Jr. and Nick Kern Jr. each scored 10 points, but the Nittany Lions struggled, dropping their seventh loss in their last eight games.
Game Summary
Penn State hosted the matchup at Recreational Hall (Rec Hall), a historic venue they played in before moving to the Bryce Jordan Center in 1996. Despite hopes that home-court energy would help, Ohio State took control early.
After falling behind 4-2, Ohio State responded with a five-point run by Mobley, giving them a lead they never relinquished. The Buckeyes’ defense played a crucial role, recording four steals in the first half and extending their lead to 43-28 with just over a minute left before halftime.
A late five-point surge by Penn State cut the deficit to 43-33 at the break. Early in the second half, Hicks hit back-to-back three-pointers, bringing the Nittany Lions within six points. However, Ohio State answered with a quick five-point run, pushing the lead back to 50-39.
Penn State never got within eight points for the remainder of the game. Ohio State stretched the advantage to 20 points when Aaron Bradshaw threw down a dunk, making it 78-58 with 4:41 left to play.
Historic Setting
This game marked just the fifth time Penn State has played at Rec Hall since 1996, with their last appearance resulting in a victory over No. 12 Illinois. However, they couldn’t replicate that success against a surging Ohio State team.
