The Ohio State men’s basketball team kicked off its new season Monday with a non-conference game against the IU Indy Jaguars at Value City Arena. It was a showcase of both teams’ offensive capabilities with the Buckeyes coming away with a 118-102 victory.

Four Ohio State starters – Christoph Tilly (28), Bruce Thornton (26), Devin Royal (22), and John Mobley Jr. (16) – scored in double figures. Tilly, a 7-foot senior who grew up in Chile, is a transfer from Santa Clara University where he averaged 9.2 points and 4.1 rebounds in 86 games with the Broncos.

A member of the Horizon League, IU Indy also reached the century mark behind five players with at least 10 points. Sophomore Kameron Tinsley led the Jags with 22 points off the bench. Junior starter Kyle D’Augustino added 21.

Besides Tilly, the OSU players who took the court for the first time as Buckeyes were fifth-year senior Brendan Noel, a Chillicothe grad who transferred from Wright State, freshman Amare Bynum, redshirt sophomore Gabe Cupps, who transferred from Indiana, and freshman Mathieu Grujicic.

Ohio State hosts Purdue Fort Wayne Friday with the tip-off scheduled for 6:30 p.m. The Mastodons are also members of the Horizon League.

Court Note:
IU Indy freshman Nate Severs, who did not see action Monday, is a graduate of Hilliard Bradley. He led those Jaguars to a pair of district titles.