LIVE UPDATES: Ohio State Buckeyes Best Oakland Golden Grizzlies 79-73 in Season Opener
It's opening day.
The Ohio State Buckeyes (16-19, 5-15 Big Ten last season) stay for a home bout against the Oakland Golden Grizzlies (13-19, 11-9 Horizon League) Monday, tipping off at 7 p.m. at Value City Arena.
After a disappointing 2022-23 season, Ohio State looks to bounce back and find their way to a Big Ten title and regain an NCAA Tournament berth.
They had a single notable regular season win over then-No. 21 Texas Tech, but the 2023 New Year seemed to be a curse for Ohio State. They went on multiple five-or-more game skids. However, they unexpectedly found their way to the semifinals of the Big Ten Tournament, defeating both Iowa and Michigan State in the process, before falling to No. 1 Purdue.
However, head coach Chris Holtmann has reiterated how excited he is for a second chance with his sophomores — notably, guards Bruce Thornton and Roddy Gayle Jr. and forward Felix Okpara. Thornton led the home stretch for the Buckeyes with leading scorer Brice Sensabaugh missing time toward the end of the season.
Oakland was on the losing end as well last season — the team didn't have any ranked wins nor any over a Power 5 team. The Grizzlies hope to turn things around this season as well, though will be without two of their top leading scorers from last season.
However, Oakland returns graduate guard Blake Lampman, junior forward Trey Townsend and former Michigan State guard transfer Rocket Watts — no stranger to the Buckeyes.
The trio can hope to stay with Ohio State's guard dominance and paint presence. Both teams will look to do a full-180 of last season to finish at the top.
Live updates will appear below following the opening kick-off.
FIRST HALF
Oakland graduate guard Jack Gohlke gets first bucket
Back-to-back threes for the Grizzlies — one from Gohlke and another from Lampman — puts Oakland up.
Ohio State 0, Oakland 6
Okpara opens scoring for Buckeyes
A turnaround floater gives Ohio State first points of the season. Guard Evan Mahaffey picks up two quick fouls and checks out for Zed Key.
Ohio State 2, Oakland 6
Buckeyes and Grizzlies trade off threes as Grizzlies go up.
Ohio State 6, Oakland 11
Timeout
Quick buckets from freshman Scotty Middleton and Minnesota transfer Jamison Battle can't keep up with Lampman's hot start
Ohio State 14, Oakland 19
Timeout
Ohio State getting big rebounds on both ends, starting to convert on offense as they move the ball around to penetrate the 2-1-2 Oakland zone.
Ohio State 20, Oakland 21
Grizzlies continue to shoot lights out, up to 5-9 beyond the arc.
Ohio State 20, Oakland 24
Timeout
Middleton and Freshmen Devin Royal getting big minutes in first half. Holtmann said Middleton was the most "ready" out of the freshmen to get minutes early.
Ohio State is playing good man defense, blocking gaps inside the arc.
Ohio State 24, Oakland 27
Ohio State starting to find its groove, knocking down more shots late in the first half.
Ohio State 26, Oakland 29
Timeout
Bruce Thornton gives Ohio State first lead of game with big three.
Ohio State 34, Oakland 33
Oakland retakes the lead with 35 seconds left.
Ohio State 34, Oakland 35
Timeout
Thornton runs clock out, doesn't get a shot up.
HALFTIME: Ohio State 34, Oakland 35
SECOND HALF
Ohio State and Oakland are going back and forth out of the locker room. Oakland is still shooting nearly lights out.
Ohio State 38, Oakland 42
Timeout
Scotty Middleton brings Buckeyes back to tie it up with back-to-back left corner threes.
Ohio State 44, Oakland 44
Timeout
Bruce Thornton responds to back-to-back threes from Oakland
Ohio State 47, Oakland 50
Timeout
A Thornton-Gayle alley-oop connection gives Ohio State its first lead of half. Gayle followed up with an and-one layup to give the Buckeyes its biggest lead of the game.
Ohio State 55, Oakland 52
Timeout
Gohlke's back-to-back threes not enough to take lead back as Gayle and senior forward Zed Key start to take over.
Ohio State 67, Oakland 62
Ohio State's big men Okpara and Key both with four fouls with 3:39 remaining.
Ohio State 67, Oakland 63
Timeout
Thornton keeps Buckeyes at an arms distance with a big three with 2:20 left. Gohlke shooting lights out with 18 points solely on threes.
Ohio State 71, Oakland 67
Timeout
Lampman hits a three to keep Grizzlies close.
Ohio State 74, Oakland 70
Timeout
Lampman hits another contested three to cut it to one score.
Ohio State 76, Oakland 73
Timeout
FINAL: Ohio State Buckeyes 79 - Oakland Golden Grizzlies - 73
