UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — In a decisive performance, freshman John Mobley Jr. led the Ohio State Buckeyes to an 83-64 victory over the Penn State Nittany Lions at Rec Hall on Thursday night. Mobley, who contributed significantly to his team’s success, scored 19 points, while teammate Bruce Thornton added 17 points, showcasing a strong shooting performance with five 3-pointers out of seven attempts. This win marked the Buckeyes’ third consecutive triumph following a challenging three-game losing streak, improving their record to 13-8 overall and 5-5 in the Big Ten Conference.

Mobley also recorded eight assists and six rebounds, demonstrating his all-around skills on the court. Devin Royal was another standout for Ohio State, contributing 15 points and eight rebounds, while Micah Parrish chipped in with 12 points. The Buckeyes established a solid lead early on, highlighted by Mobley’s sharp shooting, including three successful 3-pointers, which helped them secure a 43-33 lead by halftime. For the Nittany Lions, Yanic Konan Niederhauser emerged as the top scorer with 21 points, though the team has struggled lately, suffering losses in seven of their last eight games.

The Nittany Lions also saw contributions from Zach Hicks, who netted 13 points and made three 3-pointers, while Ace Baldwin Jr. and Nick Kern each contributed 10 points, with Baldwin adding six assists to his stat line. During the second half, at the 14-minute mark, Hicks quickly made two 3-pointers, narrowing the deficit to 45-39. However, Ohio State responded with an immediate five-point run, maintaining a lead of at least three possessions throughout the remainder of the game. A powerful dunk by Parrish late in the game marked Ohio State’s largest lead at 82-62, solidifying their dominance.

In addition to their scoring prowess, the Buckeyes had a substantial edge in rebounding, outperforming Penn State on the boards 41-23, including 13 offensive rebounds that translated to an 18-4 advantage in second-chance points. Ohio State has their next game lined up against No. 18 Illinois on Sunday, while Penn State will take on Minnesota at home on Tuesday.