SALT LAKE CITY — Ohio State's basketball season got off to an ugly start Monday night as the Buckeyes squandered a halftime lead and turned in a dreadful second-half defensive performance in a 94-83 loss to No. 25 BYU at the Delta Center.
The Buckeyes led 37-34 at halftime and appeared capable of pulling off an upset in their season opener. Instead, Ohio State allowed the Cougars to score 60 points over the final 20 minutes, repeatedly giving up baskets in the paint and utterly failing to contain BYU guard Robert Wright III, or anyone else for that matter.
Ohio State started the game well, building a 24-13 lead midway through the first half behind Amare Bynum and John Mobley Jr. The Buckeyes moved the ball effectively, attacked the basket, and appeared to have BYU struggling to find an offensive rhythm. However, the Cougars gradually worked their way back, cutting the deficit to three points by halftime.
The defensive problems became much more apparent after the break. BYU opened the second half with a three-pointer from Collin Chandler to tie the game, and the teams traded baskets before Wright began taking control. Ohio State continued scoring, but its inability to string together defensive stops prevented the Buckeyes from building another lead.
Bynum helped keep Ohio State in the contest, scoring five consecutive points early in the second half. The Buckeyes eventually tied the game at 59 with 10:26 remaining, but that was as close as they would get.
Tyler Betsey immediately answered with a three-pointer to put BYU back in front, and the Cougars began pulling away. Wright followed with another three-pointer, while Jaxon Kohler and Brooks Bahr added baskets as BYU stretched its advantage to 71-61 with just over eight minutes remaining.
Ohio State continued fighting offensively, with Andrija Jelavic providing several baskets down the stretch. However, every attempt to cut into the deficit seemed to be answered by another BYU score, mainly because BYU scored at will. Wright continued attacking the defense, and the Cougars maintained control throughout the closing minutes.
Bynum led Ohio State with 20 points, while Mobley added 14. Wright finished with 33 points for BYU, including 19 in the second half, while Betsey contributed 15.
For Ohio State, the most troubling part of the loss wasn't the final margin but the inability to slow down, let alone stop BYU after halftime. The Buckeyes scored 46 second-half points themselves, an offensive performance that should have been more than enough to win. Instead, they allowed the Cougars to score 60 and turn a close game into a double-digit defeat.
What's Next
Ohio State returns home Friday, November 6, to face Youngstown State at the Schottenstein Center. Tipoff is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. ET, with the game available on B1G+.
