By Danielle Daniels
Jake Diebler Ohio State M BKB coach Postgame Press Conference after 94-68 win over Purdue Fort Wayne Friday November 7, 2025
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Ohio State senior captain Bruce Thornton continued his strong start to the 2025–26 season Friday night, scoring a career-high 38 points to lead the Buckeyes past Purdue Fort Wayne, 94–68, in the team’s second home contest of the year.
Thornton (Fairburn, GA) powered the Buckeyes on both ends, scoring his 38 points on 14-of-17 shooting, while adding five assists and five rebounds. This performance moves Thornton to 15th place all-time in program history in career scoring, passing Jon Diebler, and raising his career total to 1,551 points. The 38 points were the most by a Buckeye in a game since Jared Sullinger scored 40 points vs. IUPUI on Dec. 9, 2010.
Ohio State broke the game open midway through the first half with a 15-2 run, building a 45-30 halftime lead. The Buckeyes shot 72.7 percent from the field in the second half and led by as many as 26 points, never allowing the Mastodons to get back within striking distance.
Sophomore guard John Mobley Jr. (Reynoldsburg, Ohio) hit five threes and scored 19 points, while senior center Christoph Tilly (Berlin, Germany) added 15 points, six rebounds, and four assists. Freshman forward Amare Bynum (Omaha, Neb.) gave the Buckeyes a spark in his second career game, finishing with nine points and two rebounds.
Fifth-year forward Brandon Noel (Lucasville, Ohio) reached a career milestone of his own, pulling down four rebounds to surpass the 800 mark.
Ohio State dominated statistically, finishing with 21 assists, a 33–17 rebounding edge, and shooting 66.7 percent from the field and 57.1 percent from three-point range. Defensively, the Buckeyes held the Mastodons to 22.7 percent from beyond the arc and forced 13 turnovers.
Purdue Fort Wayne was led by Mikale Stevenson with 21 points, and DeAndre Craig added 18.
Up Next
Ohio State remains at home on Tuesday, Nov. 11 when the Buckeyes host Appalachian State. Tip-off is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. ET, and the game will be streamed live on BIG+. Tickets can be purchased at OhioStateBuckeyes.com.
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