The Ohio State Buckeyes (7-1, 1-0) played its first game in eight days as they traveled to Evanston, Illinois for a matchup against the Northwestern Wildcats (5-4, 0-2), securing an 86-82 win to open up conference
play.
The Wildcats were led into this one by Nick Martinelli, who entered the contest averaging 19.8 points and 6.8 rebounds per game. He is seventh in the conference in scoring. Arrinten Page averages 15.8 points and 6.9 rebounds per game and Jayden Reid averages 12.1 points and 5.9 assists per game.
Both teams were coming off a loss, as the Buckeyes lost at Pittsburgh 67-66 on a buzzer beating three-pointer, while Northwestern dropped its first conference game of the season, 85-73.
The Buckeyes and Wildcats got the scoring early and often, with Northwestern taking a 15-13 lead into the first media timeout six minutes into the game.
The two teams then answered each other with runs, as the Buckeyes led 38-32 at the under four media timeout, but a 12-2 run from the Wildcats gave them a 44-40 lead heading into halftime.
Nick Martinelli led Northwestern with 15 points in the first half on 6-for-10 shooting and six rebounds, five on the offensive side, while Brandon Noel led Ohio State with 10 points on 5-for-5 shooting.
The Wildcats came out hot, starting the second half on a 13-6 run and taking a 57-48 lead.
After going down 57-48 on a Jayden Reid three-pointer with 16 minutes left in the game, the Buckeyes answered with a 16-4 run to take a 64-61 lead. A three-pointer from Arrinten Page tied the game at 64 for Northwestern.
Both teams continued to attack, as they went back and forth for the remainder of the game. Noel gave Ohio State a 76-70 lead with a key three-point play with three minutes left in the game.
The Buckeyes survived a late run from Northwestern to win 86-82.
Here are 15 key moments from the road win.
John Mobley Jr. and Christoph Tilly started the game
Both Mobley and Tilly came into this one questionable, but both started for the Buckeyes in this one and looked healthy early on.
Mobley showing early promise
Even though Mobley was in the starting lineup, his effectiveness coming into the game was in question. However, he took three of the first four shots for Ohio State and recorded three early points. The big storyline however, was that he looked mobile on his ankle early in the game after the injury against Pittsburgh.
Early offensive rebounds for the Wildcats
The Wildcats started the game with three quick offensive rebounds that led to seven of their first 11 points in the contest. Nick Martinelli finished the first half with five of his six rebounds coming on the offensive glass.
Ohio State’s hot start from the field
The Buckeyes took a 20-19 lead into the second media timeout after starting the game 9-for-14 from the field. However, they were just 1-for-4 from the three-point line and 8-for-10 from inside the three-point line.
Colin White provides a boost off the bench
The former Mr. Basketball in Ohio has not had a huge role so far this season for Ohio State, but he came into this game as the second man off the bench and hit two quick shots and forced a Northwestern turnover that led to a basket.
Nick Martinelli scores with ease
Coming into the season, Nick Martinelli was one of the best returning scorers in the conference, and he has kept up that reputation. Through the Wildcats’ first eight games, he is averaging 19.8 points per game, which is good for seventh in the conference.
He was 6-for-10 with 18 points and six rebounds, five offensive, in the first half to lead all scorers.
The Brandon Noel game?
Brandon Noel only played nine minutes against Pittsburgh and did not score, but in this one, he started off hot. He started the game with 10 points and five rebounds on 5-for-5 shooting from the field.
Northwestern closes the first half on a run
Bruce Thornton made a layup with 3:45 left in the first half to give Ohio State a 38-32 lead at the under four media timeout. After that, the Wildcats closed the first half on a 12-2 run to take a 44-40 lead into halftime.
The Buckeyes were 0-for-2 from the field with three turnovers in the final three minutes of the half.
Angelo Ciaravino starts the second half hot
The Wildcat guard had six of the Wildcats first ten points in the second half, with two of those coming off dunks after strong cuts to the basket and bad communication from the Buckeyes on defense.
Noel and Thornton keep the Buckeyes in it
While trailing 61-58, Brandon Noel and Bruce Thornton recorded 16 of the Buckeyes first 18 points in teh second half, with the only other bucket coming from freshman Amare Bynum.
The Buckeyes go on a much needed run
After going down 57-48 on a Jayden Reid three-pointer with 16 minutes left in the game, the Buckeyes answered with a 16-4 run to take a 64-61 lead. A three-pointer from Arrinten Page tied the game at 64 for the Wildcats.
The Buckeyes struggle from the line
Coming into this game, Ohio State was shooting 79.8 % from the free-throw line, which was the best mark in the conference. However, they struggled in this one from the charity stripe, only making six of its first eleven free throws, while Northwestern made all of its first eleven from the line.
Devin Royal shows up to the party
It was a sluggish first 36 minutes for the Buckeyes fourth leading scorer, only recording two points. But he came up big after the under four media timeout, securing back to back made field goals to push the Buckeye lead to six with three minutes left in the game.
Brandon Noel has career day
It started as the Brandon Noel game and the second half was more of the same. Noel finished with 29 points, 19 in the second half, on 13-for-15 shooting from the field and six rebounds.
Thornton and Tilly secure the win at the line
The senior captain knocked down two key free throws to keep the Buckeye lead at three for Ohio State, with Tilly knocking down one to make it a two possession game to secure the win.
