Ohio State basketball went into Las Vegas for a battle against the No. 19 Texas Longhorns as part of the Hall of Fame Series.
It wasn’t expected to come out on top, closing as a 2.5-point underdog, but it pulled off the upset and left with a resounding victory. The Buckeyes won 80-72, and they were led by a dynamic backcourt duo. Their guards off the bench played were efficient as well.
While the early-season overreactions are always welcome when they positively mention the Buckeyes, CBS Insider Jon Rothstein said following the game that Ohio State has the “best backcourt in the Big Ten.”
Ohio State’s perimeter looks the part in Las Vegas. Buckeyes beat Texas and get a combined 57 from Bruce Thornton, Micah Parrish, Meechie Johnson, and John Mobley. Best backcourt in the Big Ten.
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) November 5, 2024
After Monday night’s battle, he might not be wrong either.
It was a strong showing for Ohio State’s guards. The Buckeyes start three guards — Meechie Johnson Jr., Evan Mahaffey and Bruce Thornton.
Thornton led the team in scoring with 20 points, and his efficiency was what one should write home to Mom about. He went 7-for-10 from the field and 3-for-4 from deep. Mahaffey finished with 17 and three triples as well while Johnson Jr. had just six points on 2-for-11 shooting.
The Buckeyes guards off the bench scored 17. Twenty points were contributed by non-guard players and 16 of those were poured in by sophomore forward Devin Royal.
If this backcourt stays at this level, the sky is the limit for this Ohio State basketball side.
