The Ohio State men’s basketball team rolled to a wild 117-75 win over Los Boris 1 at the Arroyo Puerto Rico Classic. This exhibition matchup, played at Coliseo Ruben Rodriguez in Bayamon, Puerto Rico, kicked off a two-game swing for the Buckeyes.
Both returning and new faces got in on the action. The Buckeyes showed off their depth and, honestly, looked pretty sharp for August.
Let’s get into the highlights, a few standout performances, and some stats that might raise an eyebrow.
Ohio State’s Dominance on Display
Ohio State came out firing. They jumped ahead 25-14 after one quarter and just kept piling it on.
By halftime, the lead was up to 59-39. The third quarter? 80-59, Buckeyes.
The final: 117-75. That says a lot, doesn’t it?
Key Players and Performances
Several guys really popped in this one:
- Jimmie Williams (Duquesne transfer) led with 20 points, four boards, and two assists. He was red-hot from deep, knocking down 6 of 7 threes.
- Anthony Thompson, a freshman wing, chipped in 14 points, seven rebounds, two assists, and two steals. Not bad for a newcomer.
- John Mobley Jr. had 13 points and three assists, shooting 5 of 7 from the field and 3 of 5 from three.
- Justin Pippen (Cal transfer) put up 12 points, four rebounds, and four assists.
- Curtis Givens III (Memphis transfer) added 11 points and three assists.
Team Statistics and Highlights
The Buckeyes shot 55% from the floor (41 of 74). From three? An eye-popping 49% (21 of 43).
On the glass, they owned a 46-30 advantage. Ball movement looked sharp too, with 33 assists on 41 made shots.
Defensive Prowess
The defense showed up as well. Ohio State turned it over just seven times and forced 13 from Los Boris 1.
Nine steals for the Buckeyes—plenty of active hands out there.
Individual Contributions and Minutes Management
Coach Jake Diebler mixed up the lineups at the start of each half. Most of the main guys played between 15 and 21 minutes, so nobody got run into the ground.
Center Josh Ojianwuna saw less than six minutes, still coming back from a knee injury. Even in that short stint, he caused two early turnovers. Not bad at all.
Scoring Depth
Five Buckeyes hit double figures:
- Jimmie Williams: 20 points
- Anthony Thompson: 14 points
- John Mobley Jr.: 13 points
- Justin Pippen: 12 points
- Curtis Givens III: 11 points
Andrija Jelavic (Kentucky transfer) added nine points and five rebounds. Freshman guard LJ Smith also had nine points, plus four boards.
Big men Ivan Njegovan and Vuk Lazarevic scored eight apiece. Njegovan grabbed 10 rebounds for good measure.
Looking Ahead
Next up, the Buckeyes play their second and final game in Puerto Rico. Coach Diebler will chat with the media on Zoom after the game—maybe we’ll get a few more hints about how this group is coming together.
This trip? It’s a chance to build some chemistry and see what both the new guys and returners can bring. Feels like they’re off to a solid start.
Final Thoughts
Ohio State really showed up strong in the Arroyo Puerto Rico Classic. Their mix of seasoned transfers and eager freshmen gives this team legit depth.
There’s a lot to be excited about if you’re a Buckeyes fan. The squad’s got the pieces to play some high-level basketball, and honestly, it’s hard not to get a little hyped about what might be coming this season.
If you’re looking for a closer look at the game or just want more Ohio State hoops talk, check out 247Sports.
- Schools Covered
- College Football Articles
- Men's College Basketball Articles
- Men's College Soccer Articles
- Women's College Basketball Articles
- Olympic Athlete Articles
- Men's College Baseball Articles
- College Sports Media Professionals Articles
- Hall of Fame Member Articles
- Former College Player Articles
- Game Previews
