Ohio

Jardy: Three quick takes from Ohio State’s blowout win at Penn State

Published

4 weeks ago

March 5, 2026

Jardy: Three quick takes from Ohio State’s blowout win at Penn State

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. – Here are three takeaways from Ohio State’s 94-62 win against Penn State at the Bryce Jordan Center.

Ohio State continues to show late-season growth

The first five minutes of this game felt eerily similar to Ohio State’s prior road game. On Feb. 25, the Buckeyes jumped out to a double-digit lead in the opening minutes at Iowa but fell apart when the Hawkeyes punched back and steadily buried Ohio State with a massive run to close the half. At Penn State, the Buckeyes scored the first seven points of the game but then went empty on six straight possessions while turning it over three times.

Penn State scored on four straight possessions to take an 8-7 lead with 15:32 left in the half, but that was the high-water mark for the home team. When John Mobley Jr. hit a 3-pointer with 14:15 left to break the drought and give Ohio State a 10-8 lead, it started a 26-3 run in the next 10:32.

Mobley capped that one, too, with a 3-pointer that made it 33-11 with 3:43. Penn State’s Mike Rhoades called two timeouts in a little more than a minute to try and slow down the Buckeyes, but the rout was on. Ohio State led 45-21 at the half and it would’ve been more if not for a few mental mistakes in the final minute that allowed the Nittany Lions to put together a 7-0 run.

Bruce Thornton is set up for a special senior day

Ohio State’s senior captain entered the game 29 points shy of tying Dennis Hopson for the program’s all-time scoring record of 2,096 points. Against the Big Ten’s worst-rated defense, he walked into the Bryce Jordan Center with a legitimate opportunity to set the new record.

He scored 18 against the Nittany Lions in only 32 minutes and was removed for good with 5:13 left and Ohio State ahead 84-48.

Maybe if he was wired a little differently, Thornton could have easily gotten to that mark by looking for his own shot and forcing the issue. Instead, he has the chance to surpass Hopson at the Schottenstein Center against Indiana on March 7. Not only is it senior day, but the first 2,000 fans will get Thornton bobbleheads, and Hopson is expected to be in attendance.

He needs 12 points to set the new record.

John Mobley Jr. continues to shine despite hand injury

Ohio State’s sophomore guard has played three games since missing three with an injury to the pinky finger on his right (shooting) hand. At Iowa, he was 3 for 4 from 3. Against Purdue, he was 5 for 11. Against Penn State, he set a career high for makes and finished 7 for 8 from deep.

His previous career high was six made 3-pointers against UCLA on Jan. 17. He’s done it in the past three games while playing with his right pinky and ring fingers taped together.

Against the Nittany Lions, Mobley had 28 points and was 8 for 9 from 3-point range.

Ohio State men’s basketball beat writer Adam Jardy can be reached at ajardy@dispatch.com, on Bluesky at @cdadamjardy.bsky.social or on Twitter at @AdamJardy.

Source link

Click to comment

Ohio

Ohio State’s Anthony Thompson quiet in McDonald’s All-American Game

Published

2 hours ago

April 1, 2026

Press Room

Ohio State’s Anthony Thompson quiet in McDonald’s All-American Game

The first appearance by an Ohio State men’s basketball player in the McDonald’s All-American Game in 12 years was a quiet one.

Anthony Thompson, the first prep player signed by the Buckeyes to participate in the event since D’Angelo Russell in 2014, came off the bench for the East team and finished with 5 points, three rebounds, a block and two turnovers in a 102-86 loss.

A five-star forward playing at Hudson (Ohio) Western Reserve Academy, Thompson is the highest-rated player to sign with OSU since Jared Sullinger in 2010 according to the 247Sports.com rankings. Inside Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, Arizona, Thompson subbed into the game with 4:55 left in the first half, turned the ball over on a drive and then buried a 3-pointer from the right corner.

“He can flame it up from the outside,” ESPN’s Paul Biancardi said on the broadcast.

One possession later, though, Thompson got the ball in transition, rushed a look from deep and airballed the 3-point attempt. After playing the remainder of the first quarter, Thompson sat until the second half, when he started for the East and was primarily matched up with Christian Collins, a USC signee. Again on the perimeter, Thompson crashed the glass, nabbed an offensive board and put it back for his final points of the night.

With the East team’s guards struggling to get the ball past midcourt, Thompson took only six shots, two of which were putbacks off offensive rebounds and one of which he missed.

His 6-foot-9 frame and 7-4 wingspan helped Thompson flash defensively when he blocked one 3-point attempt and altered another.

Thompson was on the floor for 15:39. Arizona signee Caleb Holt Missouri signee Jason Crowe Jr. from the West team were named co-MVPs.

Ohio State men’s basketball beat writer Adam Jardy can be reached at ajardy@dispatch.com, on Bluesky at @cdadamjardy.bsky.social or on Twitter at @AdamJardy.

Source link

Ohio

Top Ohio State Assistant Joel Justus Takes Job at Vanderbilt

Published

14 hours ago

March 31, 2026

Press Room

Top Ohio State Assistant Joel Justus Takes Job at Vanderbilt

Jake Diebler will have a new top assistant coach in 2026-27.

His top assistant from this past season, Joel Justus, announced on Tuesday that he’ll be leaving Ohio State to take an assistant coaching position at Vanderbilt, per CBS Sports.

News: Ohio State associate head coach Joel Justus is joining Mark Byington’s staff, source tells CBS Sports. Justus, 44, spent the past two years in Columbus and was previously at NC State for the magical F4 run in 2024 and also worked under John Calipari at UK for seven years.
— Matt Norlander (@MattNorlander) March 31, 2026

Justus served as Diebler’s top assistant for each of the head coach’s first two seasons at the helm of Ohio State, seeing the Buckeyes finish the 2024-25 season with a disappointing 17-15 record before aiding OSU in making its first NCAA Tournament in four years in 2025-26. The No. 8 seed Ohio State lost in the first round of the Big Dance to No. 9 seed TCU.

Before his time with the Buckeyes, Justus spent two seasons as an assistant coach at NC State, helping the Wolfpack reach the 2024 Final Four. He was also an assistant at Kentucky under John Calipari for seven years and spent one year at Arizona State.

Justus played college basketball at UNC Wilmington, the same alma mater as Vanderbilt head coach Mark Byington, though the two did not overlap in their time there. The Commodores boasted a 27-9 record and finished fourth in the SEC in 2025-26, making the NCAA Tournament as a No. 5 seed and advancing to the second round before falling to No. 4 seed Nebraska.

Source link

Ohio

Who are best OHSAA hockey players in central Ohio? See our list

Published

1 day ago

March 31, 2026

Press Room

Who are best OHSAA hockey players in central Ohio? See our list

Three members of state semifinalist Dublin Jerome highlight The Dispatch’s 2025-26 All-Metro hockey team.

The Celtics advanced to their first state tournament since 2019, losing a semifinal to Cleveland St. Ignatius 2-1 in three overtimes.

The Athlete of the Year in each sport – 30 in all – will be announced at the Central Ohio High School Sports Awards on June 22 at Upper Arlington High School.

Dylan Bell, St. Charles

One of the top goalies in the state, the junior helped lead the Cardinals to the regional final. Bell finished 13-3-1 with six shutouts, a 1.03 goals-against average and .957 save percentage. He was first-team all-state, all-Capital Hockey Conference and all-CHC-Red.

John Michael Beuselinck, Dublin Jerome

The senior proved to be a final strong line of defense for the Celtics, leading them to the state tournament. Beuselinck went 15-7-2-1 with five shutouts, a 1.58 goals-against average and .930 save percentage. He had 17 saves in a 2-0 win over St. Charles in the regional final. Beuselinck was second-team all-CHC and honorable mention all-state.

Connor Hagkull, Upper Arlington

After leading the Golden Bears to their first state title in 2025, the senior center capped his prep career by leading UA in scoring with 43 goals and 41 assists. He was first-team all-state and second-team all-CHC. The Bears lost to Jerome 3-1 in a regional semifinal.

Eli Hall, Thomas Worthington

The senior helped anchor the Cardinals’ defense as they won the CHC-White and advanced to a regional quarterfinal before losing 8-4 to Olentangy Liberty. Hall finished with 10 goals and 31 assists and was first-team all-CHC and all-CHC-White and second-team all-state.

Will Howard, St. Charles

The junior forward emerged as the leading scoring for the Cardinals, finishing with 21 goals and 32 assists to help them earn the No. 1 seed for the regional tournament. He was first-team all-CHC and all-CHC-Red and third-team all-state.

Drew Hunkins, Olentangy Liberty

The junior forward was the Patriots’ leading scorer, finishing with 29 goals and 37 assists to earn honorable mention all-state. Liberty advanced to a regional semifinal, losing 3-1 to St. Charles.

Luke Myers, Dublin Jerome

The junior forward played a key role in the Celtics’ march to the state tournament, leading the team in scoring with 25 goals and 26 assists. Myers was first-team all-CHC and all-CHC-Red and third-team all-state.

Tate Rook, Upper Arlington

The junior forward was a key contributor to the Bears’ success, finishing second to Hagkull in scoring with 38 goals and 45 assists. Rook was first-team all-CHC and all-CHC-Red and honorable mention all-state.

Henry Thackeray, Upper Arlington

The senior was a lockdown defenseman for UA and contributed nine goals and 32 assists. Thackeray was first-team all-state and all-CHC-Red and second-team all-CHC.

Tommy Scharfenberger, St. Charles

The senior recorded 14 goals and 26 assists to help the Cardinals win the CHC-Red and the Blue Jackets Cup for the Red Division. Scharfenberger was first-team all-CHC and all-CHC-Red and second-team all-state.

Brayden Scholl, Dublin Coffman

The senior defenseman helped the Shamrocks win the Blue Jackets Cup for the White Division and reach a regional quarterfinal, which they lost 5-1 to UA. Scholl collected 13 goals and 41 assists and was first-team all-CHC-White and second-team all-CHC.

Michael Wozniak, Watterson

The senior forward was a force on offense, leading the Eagles with 63 goals and 21 assists. Wozniak was first-team all-CHC-White and honorable mention all-state and all-CHC.

COACH OF THE YEAR: Pat Murphy, Dublin Jerome

Murphy, who helped form the program when the school opened in 2004, guided the Celtics to their fourth state tournament, their first state final since 2019 and a 25-11-2-1 finish.

He also moved within two wins of 500 for his career, ending the year 498-237-59-4.

Murphy coached at the junior varsity level for two seasons in the school district before taking over at Jerome.

In 2019, the Celtics became the first central Ohio team to reach the state final, losing 7-2 to St. Ignatius.

“Coach Murphy did an amazing job this season of uniting his team, battling through adversity and getting the boys playing at their peak by the time the postseason arrived,” athletic director Jay Schwanke said. “He continues to lead his program with skill, purpose and integrity.”

High school sports reporter Frank DiRenna can be reached at fdirenna@dispatch.com and at @DispatchFrank on X.

Source link