Ohio State
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North Carolina
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Buckeyes Erase 2nd Half Deficit but Fall Late to No. 12 UNC
12/20/2025 6:58:00 PM | Men's Basketball
ATLANTA, Ga. – North Carolina’s basket with under 10 seconds left gave the Tar Heels a 71-70 lead and John Mobley Jr’s game-winning three-point attempt fell off the rim as the Buckeyes dropped a tough one on Saturday in the CBS Sports Classic in Atlanta.
Mobley Jr. (Reynoldsburg, Ohio) had just put the Buckeyes ahead with a go-ahead three-pointer and free throw with 48 seconds left. He finished with 13 points and a team-high four assists.
Devin Royal (Pickerington, Ohio) led Ohio State with 18 points and eight rebounds. Bruce Thornton (Fairburn, Ga.) added 16 points, four rebounds and four assists, scoring 10 points in the second half while playing in front of friends and family during a week that included his jersey retirement at Milton High School.
Christoph Tilly (Berlin, Germany) recorded his second consecutive double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds. Amare Bynum (Omaha, Neb.) made his first collegiate start and finished with 11 points, six rebounds and a steal.
The Buckeyes started slow, shooting 33 percent in the first half and trailed by as many as 11 midway through the second half. They battled back behind strong defense and late scoring from Thornton and Royal. Mobley’s late three gave them their first lead since early in the first half, but UNC scored twice in the final 23 seconds to steal the win.
North Carolina was led by Caleb Wilson with 20 points and 15 rebounds. Veesaar added 17, and Seth Trimble scored 17, including three three-pointers. The Tar Heels outscored Ohio State 14–7 in second- chance points and made eight three-pointers.
Up Next
Ohio State has a quick turnaround and will host Grambling State on Tuesday afternoon at the Schottenstein Center. Tip-off is set for 2 p.m. and the game will be televised on BTN.
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