Ohio State is 3-0 in its previous appearances in the Gavitt Games

#19 Ohio State at Xavier
Date: November 18, 2021
Time: 6:30 p.m.
Venue: Cincinnati, Ohio – Cintas Center
Watch: FS1
Listen: Ohio State Radio Network from Learfield
Live Stats: OhioStateBuckeyes.com
Game Notes: Ohio State | Xavier
Rosters: Ohio State | Xavier
Season Stats: Ohio State | Xavier

VIDEO: Holtmann, Young, Branham Pregame Press Interview

COLUMBUS, Ohio – No. 19Ohio State heads out on the road for the first time this season and what a test it will be on Thursday night, as the Buckeyes will play Xavier as part of the 2021 Gavitt Tip-off Games. Tip-off is set for 6:30 p.m. and Brandon Gaudin and Bill Raftery will call the action on FS1.

• This will be just the fifth all-time meeting between the two programs with the Buckeyes holding a 3-1 record. The last meeting was a memorable one for the Buckeyes as OSU won 78-71 in overtime in the second round of the 2007 NCAA Tournament. Ron Lewis’ three-pointer late in regulation tied the game and was one of the Buckeyes’ “One Shining Moments” of the run to the NCAA championship game that year.
• This will be the fourth time Ohio State has participated in the Gavitt Games. The Buckeyes are 3-0 in the previous three appearances, collecting wins over Providence, Creighton and Villanova.
• Ohio State has opened the year with three victories, including a pair of wins over in-state foes Akron and Bowling Green.
• This will be the 320th game for Ohio State vs. a team from Ohio. The Buckeyes have a record of 240-79 (.752) all-time and have won the last 32 regular season meetings against in-state opponents dating back to 1994.
• E.J. Liddell has led the team in scoring in each of the first three games. He is scoring 22.3 points per game and is shooting an efficient 20-of-29 (.690) from inside the arc.
• Zed Key has scored in double-figures in each of the first three games, which marks the first time in his young career that he has had a streak of consecutive games with 10 or more points.
• Meechie Johnson Jr. (13 pts) and Eugene Brown III (12 pts) are both coming off career-high scoring performances in the win over Bowling Green on Monday night.
• Point guard Jamari Wheeler has been great so far with the ball, dishing-out 12 assists and committing just one turnover. He’s also 4-of-8 from long distance.
• The Buckeyes have shot over 50 percent in the last two games. They only shot over 50 percent in consecutive games twice last season and never three consecutive games.
• Xavier enters the game having defeated both Niagara and Kent State. Paul Scruggs leads the team in scoring at 20.0 ppg while Colby Jones is averaging 17.5 ppg.

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COURTESY OSU ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS