How Ohio State basketball crushed Campbell despite missing key players

Ohio State dominated Campbell 104-60, with freshman Juni Mobley leading the charge, scoring a career-high 23 points. Despite missing key players, the Buckeyes showcased their depth with strong performances from Devin Royal, Meechie Johnson, and Micah Parrish, and hit 65% of their three-point attempts. The win boosts Ohio State's confidence as they gear up for Big Ten competition.

Ohio State Buckeyes guard John Mobley Jr. (0) shoots a three pointer during the second half of the NCAA men's basketball game against the Campbell Fighting Camels at Value City Arena in Columbus on Friday, Nov. 22, 2024. Ohio State won 104-60.
Ohio State Buckeyes guard John Mobley Jr. (0) shoots a three pointer during the second half of the NCAA men's basketball game against the Campbell Fighting Camels at Value City Arena in Columbus on Friday, Nov. 22, 2024. Ohio State won 104-60. | Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

The Ohio State basketball team cruised to a dominant 104-60 win over Campbell on Friday night, with freshman guard John "Juni" Mobley Jr. stealing the spotlight. Mobley came off the bench and lit up the scoreboard, finishing with a career-high 23 points. He was on fire from beyond the arc, making 5 of 8 three-point attempts. His sharp shooting helped the Buckeyes reach the 100-point mark for the first time in 5 years.

Ohio State was missing key players, Sean Stewart and Aaron Bradshaw, but that didn’t slow them down. Stewart was out for an injury, and Aaron Bradshaw was missing for an undisclosed reason. Coach Jake Diebler adjusted the lineup and got big contributions from several players.

Devin Royal, who had his first career start, stepped up with 17 points and 8 rebounds. Meechie Johnson also had a strong game, adding 12 points and 4 assists, while Micah Parrish chipped in with 16 points and 9 rebounds.

The Buckeyes were unstoppable from three-point range, especially in the first half, where they made 11 of 13 shots from deep. This hot shooting will be a key strength of this team this year, and it helped Ohio State build a 53-27 halftime lead, and they never looked back. In the second half, the team shifted its focus to scoring inside, racking up 40 of their 52 points in the paint. Ohio State also moved the ball well, finishing with 22 assists.

Even without their regular starting lineup, Ohio State showed off its depth. Mobley’s breakout performance was key, but the entire team contributed to the win. The Buckeyes’ defense also played a role, forcing turnovers on 20%+ of Campbell's possessions. All while holding them to just 40.4% shooting from the field.

This blowout win gives Ohio State a boost of confidence as they prepare for the tougher challenges ahead in Big Ten basketball. With Juni Mobley emerging as a scoring threat and veterans like Devin Royal and Meechie Johnson playing well, the Buckeyes are looking like a dangerous team moving forward.

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