Jelavic leads Ohio State past Youngstown State in 24-point rout
The rookie forward scored a career-high 21 points as the Buckeyes snapped a first-half tie with a dominant second-half surge at home.
By Alyssa Parker ·
Ohio State defeated Youngstown State 89-65 on Friday night at Schottenstein Center, capping a 24-point victory with a decisive late-game surge. Forward Andrija Jelavic led the Buckeyes with a career-high 21 points, along with team-leading totals in rebounds, blocks, and steals.
The win came after a closely contested first thirty minutes. The score saw eight lead changes, and neither team built an advantage larger than six points. With Ohio State holding a 53-52 edge with 10:21 remaining in the third quarter, the dynamic shifted decisively.
Jelavic initiated a 13-0 run over the next 2 minutes and 35 seconds. He scored seven points during that stretch, adding two rebounds, a block, and a steal. Forward Amare Bynum contributed the other six points in the run. Bynum noted the shift in momentum, stating, 'Just me and [Jelavic] started going, then we just opened everything up for everybody else.'
Jelavic extended the lead with four consecutive points, including a layup and a dunk, to put the Buckeyes ahead 73-56 with 5:01 left in the game. That margin represented Ohio State’s largest lead of the night. The team maintained its offensive pressure, finishing the contest on a 36-13 run.
Three Buckeyes finished with double-digit scoring. Guard John Mobley Jr., the lone returning starter, led the team with 25 points. Bynum added 15 points. Jelavic, one of nine newcomers on the roster, described the depth of the roster. 'This game it was me who scored, me and [Mobley] who scored, the next game it could be two other guys, and just that’s the beautiful part about this game and about this team, is everyone on this team is talented enough to score 15, 20, 25 points a game,' Jelavic said.
Head coach Jake Diebler praised the player’s development since an exhibition game against Cincinnati on Oct. 7. Diebler said Jelavic 'raised his level' and showed 'great maturity' after direct conversations with coaching staff. Diebler added, 'I just think it’s been a whole another level.' Jelavic credited his teammates and coaches for the opportunity, saying he practiced hard and believed in himself, knowing his chance to shine would come.
Jelavic’s previous career high was 13 points, scored in the Buckeyes’ 94-83 season-opening loss to BYU on Monday. His performance Friday marked his second double-digit scoring outing in the team’s first two games.
