Jelavic leads Buckeyes past Youngstown

Andrija Jelavic took control of the game in the final minutes of Friday night's matchup against Youngstown State. The Ohio State forward scored seven points, collected two rebounds, recorded a block and a steal during a 13-0 run that shifted momentum to the Buckeyes. That surge followed a tight contest where eight lead changes occurred in the first 30 minutes, with no team building a lead larger than six points until the second half.

Jelavic finished the 89-65 win with a career-high 21 points. He also led the team in rebounds, blocks and steals. It marked his second strong scoring performance in as many games, following a 13-point outing in the Buckeyes' 94-83 season opener loss to BYU on Monday. Guard Justin Pippen noted that Jelavic's production was expected based on practice sessions. “We’ve seen him doing it in practice, so we know he’s a really good player,” Pippen said. “Just to see him get going it was good for the team, that definitely helped us win tonight.”

Head coach Jake Diebler credited Jelavic with showing improved maturity since the exhibition game against Cincinnati on Oct. 7. Diebler said the forward took direct coaching sessions seriously and raised his level of play. “I thought he really raised his level, and he showed great maturity because we had some really direct conversations, he took the coaching, and then he went to work,” Diebler said. “The consistency at which he’s operated since then, I mean, he had some great moments before, don’t get me wrong, but I just think it’s been a whole another level.”

The game turned decisively with 10:21 remaining in the fourth quarter. Ohio State led 53-52 before Jelavic and Amare Bynum drove the offensive wave. Bynum added six points during the 13-0 run. “Just me and [Jelavic] started going, then we just opened everything up for everybody else,” Bynum said. Jelavic extended the lead with a layup and a dunk, putting the Buckeyes ahead 73-56 with 5:01 left. That was the largest margin of victory for Ohio State in the game.

The Buckeyes finished the contest on a 36-13 run. Three players scored in double figures. Returning starter John Mobley Jr. led the team with 25 points, while Bynum added 15. Jelavic, one of nine newcomers on the roster, described the performance as a result of consistent effort and self-belief. “I’m thankful for the opportunity this team provided me, both coaches and my teammates, and I just knew that my opportunity [would] come on this team, and I just practice hard, I believe in myself, play hard, and I knew this would come sooner or later,” Jelavic said.

The Buckeyes will continue their season schedule following this home opener. They aim to maintain the scoring balance that allowed them to overcome the early-game stalemate against the Penguins. The team will look to replicate the defensive intensity that limited Youngstown State to 65 points in the Schottenstein Center.