Rob Wright III dropped a monstrous 33 points Monday night, absolutely leading No. 25 BYU to a 94-83 victory over Ohio State to kick off their season 1-0. What a way to start the year for the Cougars, especially after the way they came out of the gate.
From Ice Cold to White Hot: BYU’s Incredible Comeback
BYU struggled from the perimeter big time to open the game, missing eight of their first nine three-point attempts. That’s a tough look, and Ohio State totally took advantage, roaring ahead with an 11-3 run to grab a 24-13 lead midway through the first half. Amare Bynum even threw down a dunk during that run, and Curtis Givens III hit a jumper to push the Buckeyes’ lead into double digits. But even with that cold shooting, BYU clawed its way back, cutting the deficit to 37-34 at halftime thanks to a clutch corner three from Nate Pickens. The second half, though? Completely different story. The Cougars shot a blistering 69% from the field and buried seven three-pointers, showing just how quickly they can turn things around. Wright’s second-chance corner three even gave them their first lead of the game.
The Cougars Surge and Seal the Deal
BYU kept pushing, extending their lead to 50-43 on a three-point play from Jaxon Kohler. Ohio State didn’t quit, briefly regaining a 57-55 lead after a John Mobley Jr. layup. But that was it for the Buckeyes. BYU went on a decisive 14-2 run that included another huge three-pointer from Wright and a sweet reverse backdoor layup from Kohler, making it 73-61 with just over seven minutes left. That’s a gut punch, and Ohio State never recovered. Wright’s 33 points, including four threes, were massive. But he wasn’t alone: Collin Chandler and Tyler Betsey each added 15 points, with Betsey also grabbing six rebounds. Bruce Branch III chipped in 12 points, and Kohler finished with 11 points and six boards. On Ohio State’s side, Amare Bynum led with 18 points, Mobley Jr. had 14 points and seven assists before fouling out with under five minutes to go, and Andrija Jelavic put up 13 points and nine rebounds. That foul out for Mobley Jr. had to sting for the Buckeyes.
BYU is back at it Friday night, hosting Omaha to try and keep this momentum rolling. Ohio State also plays Friday, welcoming Youngstown State. If this opening night is any indication, we’re in for a wild ride this season.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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