Rob Wright III Leads No. 25 BYU to 94-83 Opening Win Over Ohio State

No. 25 BYU tipped off the 2026-2027 college basketball season with a 94-83 victory over Ohio State on Monday night at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City. Led by head coach Kevin Young, the Cougars secured the win in front of home fans during the opening week of play.

Rob Wright III spearheaded the offensive effort for BYU, scoring 33 points on 15 field goal attempts. Wright added five assists and converted 11 of 12 free throws while making four of his five shots from beyond the arc. His performance proved instrumental as the Cougars controlled the pace in the second half.

The game marked the first meeting between the two programs since December 1997, when BYU defeated Ohio State 72-65 in Honolulu. With Monday's outcome, the Cougars extended their all-time lead in the head-to-head series to 2-0.

Ohio State capitalized on early perimeter struggles from BYU to build a double-digit advantage in the first half. The Buckeyes used an 11-3 run to claim a 24-13 lead with 8:32 remaining before halftime, eventually taking a 37-34 edge into the locker room.

BYU responded after intermission by shooting 69% from the field and converting seven 3-pointers in the second period. Collin Chandler and Tyler Betsey each contributed 15 points for the Cougars, while Bruce Branch III added 12 points and Jaxon Kohler chipped in 11 points along with six rebounds.

Amare Bynum led the Buckeyes with 18 points, while Andrija Jelavic posted 13 points and nine rebounds. John Mobley Jr. added 14 points and seven assists for Ohio State before fouling out with 4:48 left on the game clock.

Following the season-opening victory, BYU prepares to host Omaha on Friday night. Meanwhile, Ohio State will return home to face Youngstown State on the same evening.