Ohio State will leave the Bahamas with two exhibition wins over international competition.
The Buckeyes beat the Puerto Rican national team 75-68 Sunday to improve to 2-0 at the Atlantis Resort on Paradise Island. Ohio State defeated the Egyptian national team in a 72-68 result on Saturday.
Ws in the chat!
— Ohio State Hoops (@OhioStateHoops) August 7, 2022
Ohio State holds on to take down the Puerto Rican national team 75-68 and will head home 2-0 for the trip!#Team124 #GoBucks pic.twitter.com/hPg2HVjXKB
Eleven Warriors was not present in the Bahamas for the matchup, and the game was neither televised nor available for stream. According to a report from Adam Jardy of the Columbus Dispatch, Ohio State held a 39-35 lead at halftime, but Puerto Rico kept things close until the end, trailing just four points with two minutes to go. The Buckeyes pulled it out in the end, though, staving off Puerto Rico to finish with a second victory in as many days.
Ohio State's starters against Egypt were pulled from a group of Brice Sensabaugh, Zed Key, Bruce Thornton, Sean McNeil, Tanner Holden and walk-ons Colby Baumann and Owen Spencer, but Chris Holtmann and company switched up the lineup with all-new starters on Sunday.
Against Puerto Rico, the Buckeyes' starters were assembled from a group of Felix Okpara, Kalen Etzler, Roddy Gayle, Isaac Likekele, Eugene Brown and Bowen Hardman, with Justice Sueing and Seth Towns sitting out as the veteran forwards continue to rehab from injury.
Below you can check out notes and photos from the game as posted by Jardy and the Ohio State basketball program on social media.
After one:
— Adam Jardy (@AdamJardy) August 7, 2022
Puerto Rico 20, #Buckeyes 17. Alfonso Plummer with 12, Brice Sensabaugh with 7.
Nice fast break with Thornton finding Gayle on the right wing and Gayle feeding a trailing Okpara for a powerful dunk. Ohio State then forced a shot clock violation to end the quarter.
#Team124 #GoBucks pic.twitter.com/zGTUFerXEg
— Ohio State Hoops (@OhioStateHoops) August 7, 2022
It's an 11-0 run for the #Buckeyes, who have turned it up offensively and defensively. Multiple guys diving for a loose ball to force a turnover. Just forced a shot clock violation, then Sean McNeil canned a jumper. OSU up 34-26 with 2:55 left in the second.
— Adam Jardy (@AdamJardy) August 7, 2022
#Buckeyes take a 39-34 lead into the half. Alfonso Plummer had 14 for Puerto Rico but 10 of them were in the first four minutes. Brice Sensabaugh with 10 at the break. Ohio State played with a lot more defensive intensity as the half went on and it turned into offense.
— Adam Jardy (@AdamJardy) August 7, 2022
Up 39-34 at the break!#Team124 #GoBucks pic.twitter.com/7cHaah7Puo
— Ohio State Hoops (@OhioStateHoops) August 7, 2022
Zed Key just dunked on all of Puerto Rico and raised the roof all the way back to halfcourt.#Buckeyes up 54-43 with 3:37 left in the third.
— Adam Jardy (@AdamJardy) August 7, 2022
Tanner Holden had a crazy athletic play to start that break.
NO ROOF IS SAFE. pic.twitter.com/KVJUdjOo7v
— Ohio State Hoops (@OhioStateHoops) August 7, 2022
#Buckeyes take a 60-51 lead into the fourth quarter. Bruce Thornton has been doing some things, and he came up with a steal as well in the third.
— Adam Jardy (@AdamJardy) August 7, 2022
Puerto Rico making a late charge. #Buckeyes ahead 70-66 with about two minutes to play. Interesting to see who steps up in moments like this and wants the ball. Who are the playmakers on this team? Still learning a lot.
— Adam Jardy (@AdamJardy) August 7, 2022
