BYU Faces Ohio State in Monday Opener at Delta Center
The Cougars, ranked No. 25, take on the No. 18 Buckeyes on FS1, seeking to break a recent losing streak in the series.
By Jessica Abebe ·
College basketball season opens for the BYU Cougars on Monday with a non-conference matchup against the Ohio State Buckeyes. The game is scheduled for 7 p.m. MST at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City.
BYU enters the contest as the No. 25 team in the preseason rankings, while Ohio State holds the No. 18 spot. The two programs have met seven times in their history, with Ohio State leading the series 4-3. The last time they played was in 1997.
The Cougars finished last season with a 23-12 record, securing a 10th place finish in the Big 12. Ohio State posted a 21-13 record to place eighth in the Big Ten. Both teams are looking to establish their identity early in the new campaign.
BYU will rely on point guard Rob Wright III, who averaged 18.1 points and 4.6 assists per game last year. The team also welcomes forward Bruce Branch III, a five-star recruit rated No. 5 nationally by 247 Sports, for his collegiate debut. On the other side, Ohio State guard Justin Pippen averages 14.2 points and 4.6 assists per game. The Buckeyes also feature freshman Anthony Thompson, rated No. 9 nationally.
Viewers can watch the game on FS1 or stream it through foxsports.com/live. Audio coverage is available on 102.7 FM and 1160 AM.
BYU center Jaxon Kohler, who averaged 12.5 points and 8.5 rebounds at Michigan State, provides interior presence for the home team. Ohio State forward Amare Bynum, who posted 9.7 points and 4.9 rebounds per game last season, leads the Buckeye frontcourt.
