It was a tough opening day for the SEC in the 2024-25 college basketball season. First, the Aggies fell, and now the Longhorns have joined them with a 80-72 loss to the Buckeyes. Despite having home-court advantage, they start the season with a defeat by more than eight points.
The Buckeyes won both quarters, scoring the first eight points of the game and never relinquishing their lead. The Longhorns managed to close the first quarter at 31-38, but the second quarter again opened with points for the visitors, who kept the home team at a steady deficit, averaging a 10-point margin.
In the postgame press conference, head coach Jake Diebler praised the Buckeyes for showing “collective toughness” in a game where they never relinquished their lead and defended it consistently. “No trying to do hero ball, stopping a run—we’re staying together.”
This marks the first win of the season for the Buckeyes, and Diebler expressed pride in his players, noting that victories like this rarely happen on opening day. “They showed up under the bright lights on a huge stage. This should validate how we’ve practiced and help us continue to practice well.”
Parrish, Thornton, and the Bench Were Lethal
Micah Parrish scored 17 points against the Texas Longhorns, including nine from three-point range and four from the free throw line. He played 30 minutes, contributing six defensive rebounds and five assists. Meanwhile, Bruce Thornton led the Buckeyes with 20 points, shooting 3-for-4 from beyond the arc, 7-for-10 from the field, and a perfect 3-for-3 from the line.
The bench was also instrumental in the win, with Devin Royal adding 16 points and Mobley Jr. contributing 14. Free-throw accuracy was a crucial factor for the Buckeyes, who shot 85.7% compared to the Longhorns’ 75%.