The Ohio State Buckeyes triumphed over the Oregon Ducks with a score of 72-62 in a college basketball matchup held on January 8, 2024, in Eugene, Oregon. All five Ohio State starters contributed significantly, each scoring in double figures, which proved pivotal in securing their victory.
Leading the charge for the Buckeyes was Devin Royal, who achieved a double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds. He was joined by Christoph Tilly, who also tallied 14 points. John Mobley Jr. made his mark with 13 points, five rebounds, and two steals, while Bruce Thornton added 12 points and six rebounds. Rounding out the strong starting lineup, Amare Bynum contributed 10 points and three blocks. Thornton’s performance extends his streak of scoring in double figures to 16 consecutive games, as he has maintained at least 11 points in every game this season.
Oregon’s efforts were led by Nate Bittle, who, ranked second in the Big Ten with an average of 2.4 blocks per game, scored 14 points on 5-of-19 shooting. He also grabbed nine rebounds and recorded three blocks. Takai Simpkins added 12 points, while both Wei Lin and Kwame Evans Jr. scored 10 points; Lin also provided five assists.
The game began competitively, with Ohio State leading 34-29 at halftime. The Ducks managed to narrow the gap to three points early in the second half. However, the Buckeyes responded with an impressive 21-0 run over a span of seven minutes, effectively putting the game out of reach for Oregon.
Ohio State dominated in the paint, outscoring Oregon 34-24, and showcased superior shooting efficiency, hitting 45% (24 of 53) of their shots compared to Oregon’s 33% (20 of 61).
Looking ahead, Ohio State is set to continue their West Coast trip with a matchup against Washington on January 14, 2024. Meanwhile, Oregon will face a challenging road game against No. 10 Nebraska on January 10, 2024, as they seek to improve their record.
