UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Freshman John Mobley Jr. had 19 points, Bruce Thornton scored 17 and Ohio State cruised to an 83-64 victory over Penn State at Rec Hall on Thursday night.

Penn State basketball positioned Thursday's game against Ohio State as a pivotal turning point on the Big Ten schedule. The Nittany Lions were at home, where they had a 10-1 record, and even better at Rec Hall, site of last year's magical 90-89 win over No. 12 Illinois. Instead, the Nittany Lions came undone.

John Mobley Jr. led a quartet of double-digit scorers with 19 points as Ohio State (13-8, 5-5) defeated Penn State (13-9, 3-8) in its return to Rec Hall, 83-64. Bruce Thornton scored 17 points (5-for-7 from 3) while Devin Royal (15 points and eight rebounds) and Micah Parrish (12 points) combined for 27 in the win.