EUGENE, Ore. (Interstat) — Ohio State led wire-to-wire to defeat Oregon 72-62 in a nonconference men’s basketball game Thursday night at Matthew Knight Arena. The Buckeyes improved to 11-4 while the Ducks fell to .500 at 8-8. Devin Royal scored 14 points for Ohio State, which built a 34-29 halftime lead and maintained control throughout the second half. Christoph Tilly also added 14 points for the Buckeyes. Oregon, a 2.5-point pregame favorite, was led by Nate Bittle’s 14 points and three blocks. Wei Lin added 10 points and five assists for the Ducks. A crowd of 6,037 watched as Ohio State secured the road victory despite being projected by analytics to have only a 33.5% chance to win. The teams combined for a total of 134 points, falling well under the over/under line of 153.5.

EUGENE, Ore. (Interstat) — In a grinding, defensive-minded contest defined more by missed shots than made ones, the Ohio State Buckeyes methodically dispatched the Oregon Ducks 72-62 on Thursday night at Matthew Knight Arena. The non-conference clash, organized by the Big Ten, saw the visiting Buckeyes improve to 11-4 on the season, while the Ducks fell back to .500 at 8-8. The game failed to live up to its pregame billing, where Oregon was installed as a 2.5-point favorite and held a 66.5% probability to win according to National Statistical’s ELO system. The combined point total of 134 fell well short of the over/under line of 153.5. The most important part of the game was Ohio State’s ability to establish and maintain control through superior efficiency in a rock fight. Both teams slogged through identical 64 possessions, but the Buckeyes maximized theirs with far greater effect. Ohio State posted an offensive rating of 112.6, converting its opportunities into quality looks at the rim and frequent trips to the free-throw line. Oregon, by stark contrast, managed a rating of just 96.1, hampered by frigid shooting all night. The Ducks’ offensive struggles were glaring. They shot just 20 of 61 from the floor, a 32.8% clip, and were an abysmal 7 of 30 from three-point range. Ohio State was not much more accurate, finishing 24 of 53 overall and 6 of 18 from deep, but the Buckeyes’ decisive advantage came at the charity stripe. Ohio State attempted 23 free throws, making 18, while Oregon went 15 of 20. The Buckeyes built their lead with a strong first half, taking a 34-29 advantage into the break. They never trailed in the second half, consistently answering any modest Oregon push with a key basket or defensive stop to keep the Ducks at arm’s length. Oregon could never piece together a sustained run to seriously threaten the lead. Devin Royal led a balanced Ohio State attack with 14 points. The Pickerington, Ohio, native was one of four Buckeyes in double figures, joined by Christoph Tilly with 14, John Mobley Jr. with 13, and Amare Bynum with 10. Tilly, the 7-foot sophomore from Berlin, Germany, added two blocks, while Bynum, a 6-foot-8 forward from Omaha, Nebraska, recorded three blocks. Oregon was led by Nate Bittle’s 14 points and three blocks. The 7-foot center from Central Point, Oregon, was active inside but, like his teammates, found consistent offense hard to generate. Takai Simpkins, a guard from Brooklyn, New York, added 12 points, while Kwame Evans of Baltimore contributed 10 points and two blocks. Wei Lin, a guard from Xiamen, China, played a team-high 37 minutes and finished with 10 points and five assists, but also committed multiple turnovers as the Ducks’ offense sputtered. The game was a stark departure from Ohio State’s previous outing, a narrow 72-69 home loss to Nebraska on Monday. For Oregon, it continued a pattern of inconsistency, following an overtime road loss to Rutgers earlier in the week. The announced attendance was 6,037 at Matthew Knight Arena. Ohio State continues its West Coast swing with a game at Washington on Sunday. Oregon looks to rebound on the road at Nebraska on Tuesday.

Preview: Ohio State Buckeyes at Oregon Ducks EUGENE, Ore. (Interstat) — The Ohio State Buckeyes look to rebound from a narrow home loss when they visit the Oregon Ducks in a nonconference men’s basketball matchup Thursday afternoon at Matthew Knight Arena. The Buckeyes (10-4) enter on the heels of a 72-69 defeat to Nebraska on Monday, a game in which they squandered a late lead. Ohio State has shown resilience, however, winning three of its last five, including an 80-73 road victory at Rutgers on Jan. 2. Ohio State is led by guard Bruce Thornton, who is averaging 18.2 points and 3.8 assists over his last five games. He scored 16 points with seven assists in the loss to Nebraska and had 20 points in the win at Rutgers. His backcourt play will be critical against Oregon’s pressure. The Ducks (8-7) are also seeking consistency after an 88-85 overtime loss at Rutgers on Monday. Oregon has alternated wins and losses over its past six games. Guard Wei Lin is coming off a season-high 23-point performance in that overtime defeat, showcasing an offensive spark the Ducks have needed. While Ohio State boasts a stronger overall record, both teams have faced challenging schedules. The Buckeyes’ losses include close defeats to North Carolina and Illinois, while Oregon has struggled against ranked opponents like Gonzaga and Auburn. This game, organized by the Big Ten, is part of the conference’s expanded scheduling alliance. It offers a key resume-building opportunity for both squads as they navigate the second half of the season. For Oregon, protecting home court is paramount before a difficult stretch that includes road games at Nebraska, Washington, Purdue and Indiana in the coming weeks. Ohio State continues a West Coast trip that sees them at Washington on Sunday. Tipoff is set for 9 p.m. EST Thursday. The Buckeyes hold a 9-8 all-time series advantage, though the programs have not met since 2019.