Exhibition games are often about process over results, and with a new-look Ohio State team scrimmaging a top-20 Cincinnati squad, that's probably where it's better to focus.
The Buckeyes shot a meager 35.8% from the field in an 80-62 loss to the Bearcats. Cincinnati shot 54.2% from the floor and 38.5% from 3-point range. Both sides experimented with a slew of different lineups in the scrimmage.
| TEAM | 1 | 2 | FINAL |
|---|---|---|---|
| OHIO STATE | 31 | 31 | 62 |
| #20 CINCINNATI | 41 | 39 | 80 |
Three players hit double-figures for Cincinnati, with wing Simas Lukosius and forward Dillon Mitchell each getting 12 points while guard Day Day Thomas had 11.
Meechie Johnson Jr. and Micah Parrish hit double-figures for Ohio State, each with 11. Bruce Thornton and Sean Stewart followed with nine a piece.
The Buckeyes and Bearcats were hooping for a cause on Friday, with proceeds from the game going to benefit mental health providers and charities in each school's footprint. Proceeds also went to Jay's Light, a mental health charity started by Dayton coach Anthony Grant and his wife, Chris.
First Half
It didn't take long for the Bearcats to pounce out to an early lead against the Buckeyes.
With the game tied at four, Dan Skillings Jr. sparked an extended 14-2 run with a triple and two layups. Cincinnati led 18-6 after less than seven minutes.
Both teams' Frankensteinian experimentation with lineups was underway early, too. Each side played 11 players in the contest's opening eight minutes. Each available scholarship player saw the floor for Ohio State except forward Kalen Etzler in the stretch.
The opening 18 minutes were a slog overall for the Buckeyes, perhaps partially due to said lineup testing. Ohio State started 7-of-22 from the floor, just 31.8%, while Cincinnati went 50% from 3 (7-of-14) in the first half. There were a startling number of open looks for the Bearcats from distance.
Cincinnati led by as many as 17 at 36-19 before Parrish put in some work to cut down the deficit, hitting a layup and a turnaround jumper with beautiful footwork. He added a 3-pointer to a steal-and-score from guard Ques Glover to help Ohio State cut its halftime deficit to 10 at 41-31.
Second Half
| OHIO STATE | STAT | CINCINNATI |
|---|---|---|
| 62 | POINTS | 80 |
| 19-53 (35.8%) | FGM-FGA (PCT.) | 32-59 (54.2%) |
| 6-18 (33.3%) | 3PM-3PA (PCT.) | 10-26 (38.5%) |
| 18-24 (75%) | FTM-FTA (PCT.) | 6-6 (100%) |
| 17 | TURNOVERS | 21 |
| 21 | TOTAL REBOUNDS | 38 |
| 6 | OFFENSIVE REBOUNDS | 9 |
| 15 | DEFENSIVE REBOUNDS | 29 |
| 22 | BENCH POINTS | 37 |
| 4 | BLOCKS | 3 |
| 12 | STEALS | 10 |
| 8 | ASSISTS | 20 |
Another cold Buckeye shooting start led to another round of lead-building for the Bearcats. Ohio State opened the second half 0-for-5 from the floor as Cincinnati went ahead 45-31.
Then the proverbial dam burst as the Buckeyes went on another 0-for-6 shooting stretch. The Bearcats launched an extended 16-2 scoring run, getting triples from Jizzle James and Josh Reed.
Meechie Johnson hit a triple of his own to stop the bleeding at last, but Cincinnati led 63-39 at that time. The exhibition will of course not count on Ohio State's record, but any chance of a road victory was long gone by that point.
Johnson hit another 3 and a pair of free throws to spur a 7-0 run, and additional triples from John Mobley Jr. and Ivan Njegovan helped make the score a more respectable 76-57.
What's Next?
Ohio State opens regular season play against No. 19 Texas at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas as part of the Hall of Fame series. Tipoff is set for 10 p.m. on Nov. 4 on TNT.
Game Notes
- Mental health education served as a big part of the exhibition, with audience trivia and "beat the stigma" skits designed to inform fans on mental health issues.
- The Buckeyes never led the Bearcats.
- There were 38 combined turnovers between the two teams, likely another symptom of the array of lineups that were used.
- Etzler did eventually get on the floor for Ohio State, hitting a pair of free throws in the final minute of action.
- 18 of the Buckeyes' points came at the free throw line.
- Cincinnati held a 38-21 edge in rebounding.
