Gayle Jr. Ties Career-High with 20 Points in 76-52 Win Over Merrimack

Wednesday, November 15

Columbus, Ohio

7:00 p.m.

Ohio State

2-1,0-0Big Ten

Merrimack

2-2,0-0NEC

Merrimack

Ohio St.

Gayle Jr. Ties Career-High with 20 Points in 76-52 Win Over Merrimack

11/15/2023 10:52:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

COLUMBUS, Ohio – A game of runs saw Ohio State earn its second win of the season as the Buckeyes downed visiting Merrimack, 76-52, on Wednesday night at the Schottenstein Center.

The Buckeyes (2-1) were led by sophomore Roddy Gayle Jr. who tied his career high with 20 points. He also had five rebounds and three assists. Jamison Battle added 13 points, nine of which came in the second half.

Zed Key notched his first double-double of the year, finishing with 11 points and a game-high 12 rebounds. Point guard Bruce Thornton scored just eight points but dished-out a career-high tying six assists.

Ohio State got off to a quick start with Gayle Jr. knocking down back-to-back three on the opening two possessions of the game. The Buckeyes weren't quite able to get separation in the first half and would lead by just six at the break, 35-29. Nearly half of the Buckeyes' points came from the free throw line, knocking down 15-of-20 attempts.

After Merrimack scored the opening bucket of the second half, the Buckeyes responded with a 10-2 run leading into the second media timeout. The run saw Ohio State force four turnovers by Merrimack. Another 5-0 Warrior run out of the timeout was answered by the Buckeyes, this time with a 16-0 stretch that lasted over four minutes. Battle had eight of the 16 points, including two threes.

Ultimately, the Buckeyes finished the game on a 24-6 scoring run from the 9:24 mark, leading to the eventual 76-53 victory. Ohio State's bench contributed 25 points and the team out-rebounded the Warriors 42-25. Freshman Austin Parks, sophomore Bowen Hardman, and redshirt sophomore Kalen Etzler all saw their first minutes this season.

The Buckeyes are back in action Sunday at 4 pm against Western Michigan. The game will be the opening game of the Emerald Coast Classic, which will continue next weekend in Niceville, Fla.

Roddy Gayle Jr: 20 points on 8-of-12 shooting with 3-of-4 three-point shooting. The sophomore also had five rebounds on top of three assists. His 20 points are tied for the most in his career. Gayle's night was capped off by an alley-oop dunk off of the in-bounds play early in the second half.
Evan Mahaffey: recorded three steals, tying for the most in his career, alongside six points.