In a thrilling season opener, the Ohio State Buckeyes defeated the 19th-ranked Texas Longhorns 80-72 on November 4, 2024.

Ohio State established a commanding 15-point lead in the first half, shooting an impressive 50% from the field and 75% from three-point range, hitting 9 of 12 attempts.

Despite Texas freshman Tre Johnson's standout performance as the game's top scorer with 29 points and five rebounds, the rest of the Longhorns struggled significantly, shooting only 24.1% from the floor.

In his debut, Johnson showcased his talent and composure, scoring 15 points in the first half on 6-of-13 shooting.

Ohio State's success was bolstered by Devin Royal, who added 16 points, and John Mobley Jr., who contributed 14 points off the bench, leading to a substantial 33-10 advantage in bench scoring.

A pivotal moment in the game came early in the second half when Evan Mahaffey's layup ignited a 9-3 run for Ohio State, allowing them to regain a comfortable lead after Texas had narrowed the gap to four points.

Micah Parrish played a crucial role for Ohio State, contributing 17 points and six rebounds while helping the team maintain control with a strong second-half shooting performance of 55.6%.

This loss was particularly surprising for Texas, as they had a strong record in season openers, winning 21 of their previous 22 before this match.

Looking ahead, Ohio State will host Youngstown State on November 11, 2024, while Texas is set to open its home schedule against Houston Christian on November 8, 2024.