The Ohio State basketball team was back in action for its second game of the 2025-26 season when it hosted Purdue Fort Wayne on Friday night. And while there were some things that the team is clearly still working through, it was another winning night in which the Buckeyes pulled away in the second half for a 94-68 victory.
We followed along with live updates throughout the game, and what follows includes some of the highlights, commentary, and game flow as it all unfolded. We’ll have more on this one, but you can go through and catch some postgame coverage as well as how things played out in real-time below.
Ohio State vs. Purdue Fort Wayne postgame reaction/coverage
3 things we learned about Ohio State basketball during the game
Ohio State vs. Purdue Fort Wayne picture gallery
Ohio State vs. Purdue Fort Wayne game flow …
Ohio State notches the win
And that’s all she wrote. Ohio State looked better as the second half wore on and finished on a high note, winning by a score of 94-68. The Buckeyes will next be in action at home against Appalachian State on Tuesday.
Thornton’s night is done after a career night
Thronton appears to be done for the night after pouring in a career high 38 points on 14-of-17 field goals. He was the difference in the game tonight, and his contributions this season are going to go a long way in determining how far this Ohio State team can go. Ohio State is up 88-68 with just 1:29 left in the game.
Buckeyes seem to be cruising towards a W now
Ohio State has started to take better care of the ball, and with it, it can get good looks and knock them down. There’s just under 5:00 left in the game, and Ohio State is up 80-62.
Bruce Thornton is putting on a show
Thornton hits his fourth triple of the day and has now tied his career high with 33 points. Even more impressive is that he’s done it on 13-of-16 shooting from the field. Ohio State leads 78-59 with 5:52 left in the contest.
Devin Royal with a step-back, contested three
Devin Royal has been out of the lineup for something he’s been dealing with, from what must be a minor injury. He comes back in and takes a contested, step-back three, and Ohio State leads 68 to 53 now with a little over nine minutes to go in the game.
Buckeyes with a lack of focus and energy
Purdue Fort Wayne cuts the lead to just seven for Ohio State, 57-50, as the Buckeyes continue to not be strong with the ball and allow too many easy looks on the other end. There are 12:00 to go in the game, and Ohio State needs to have better effort and communication on the defensive end, and more composure on the offensive end.
Ohio State is very sloppy with the ball
A continued theme in the first two games of the year is some extreme carlessness with the ball for Ohio State. After a slew of turnovers — 14 total now for the game– Purdue Fort Wayne has taken advantage with easy baskets on the other end and has cut the lead to 55-46 with 14:28 remaining in the game. Inexcusable really.
Mastodons have come out energized
Ohio State has some work to do with its defense. Purdue Fort Wayne continues to get good looks and has cut the lead to 47-34 early in the second half.
Purdue Fort Wayne scores right before half, Buckeyes lead
The Mastodons get a three-pointer right before the half to cut the OSU lead to 45-30 as the teams head into the locker room for the half.
Thornton turns on the offense and gets an And 1
Bruce Thornton pushes the pace and goes through contact in the lane, makes the basket while getting fouled, and nails the free throw for a 3-point play the old-fashioned way. Ohio State now leads 43-27 with 1:02 until halftime.
Brandon Noel throws it down
Purdue Fort Wayne is hanging in there, but Brandon Noel just flushed one down, followed by a John Mobley Jr. triple, and Ohio State now leads 38-21 with 3:33 left in the half.
Ohio State still up by double figures at the under-8-minute time-out out
The teams have gone back and forth over the last few minutes, and Ohio State is still up by double figures, leading the Mastodons by a 31-17 score. Bruce Thornton leads all scorers so far with 12 points.
Mobley hits from well beyond the 3-point arc
Ohio State has made 5-of-6 three-point attempts so far — the latest from Mobley from almost logo range. The Buckeyes have extended their lead to 22-7 with 12:57 remaining in the first half.
Ohio State hot from the floor to start
The Buckeyes have nailed three 3-pointers already and are up 13-2 with just nearly two and a half minutes off the clock. They’ve come out with energy and are on fire from the field.
Buckeyes win the tip and score first
OSU won the tip, drew a foul, and then Bruce Thornton and John Mobley Jr. both nailed deep balls on back-to-back possessions to open the scoring. OSU leads 5-0 with 18:30 remaining in the first half.
Stream Ohio State basketball vs. Purdue Fort Wayne
What channel is Ohio State vs. Purdue Fort Wayne on today?
Ohio State vs. Purdue Fort Wayne will be televised nationally on the Big Ten Network. Jason Ross Jr. (play-by-play) | Joey Lane (analyst) will call the game from the booth at Value City Arena in the Schottenstein Center. Streaming options for the game include FUBO, which may offer a free trial to new subscribers.
Ohio State vs. Purdue Fort Wayne game time today
The Ohio State Buckeyes vs. Purdue Fort Wayne game starts at 6:30 p.m. ET from the Schottenstein Center in Columbus, Ohio.
Stream Ohio State vs. Purdue Fort Wayne
Ohio State vs IU Indy predictions, picks, odds
Odds courtesy of BetMGM as of Thursday, Nov. 6
Contact/Follow us @BuckeyesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Ohio State news, notes, and opinion. Follow Phil Harrison on X.
This article originally appeared on Buckeyes Wire: Ohio State basketball vs Purdue Fort Wayne: Instant analysis, highlights, and reaction.
Reporting by Phil Harrison, Buckeyes Wire / Buckeyes Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
