Buckeyes put six in double figures in 84-64 win over ….
Playing a Mid-American Conference opponent between a pair of December Big Ten games, it is understandable if Ohio State had its mind elsewhere as Miami (Ohio) visited Value City Arena on Wednesday night.
But the Buckeyes largely took care of business as they got up by 13 points at halftime and led by as many as 26 points in the second half on their way to a 84-64 win over the visiting RedHawks before 9,098 at VCA.
“I thought we had a readiness to play,” OSU coach Chris Holtmann said. “I thought we looked like we were a little bit fatigued. Overall, I thought we knew this group was coming off beating Marshall and was capable. I don’t have any complaints about (effort).
“I might have worried about our focus and concentration. But I thought we had it for a good portion of the game.”
Guard Roddy Gayle led six OSU players in double figures with 15 points, four rebounds and three assists for the Buckeyes (8-1).
Guard Bruce Thornton tallied 14 points, two assists and two steals, while forward Jamison Battle added 13 points and three assists.
Center Zed Key had 13 points, 10 rebounds and four assists off the bench. Key had struggled in a pair of recent outings, but was 5 of 9 from the floor and 3 of 6 at the foul line in this game.
“My team found me in the right spots,” Key said. “I was rebounding the ball today and we were getting some extra possessions at the offensive end. My teammates found me and I felt great.”
OSU’s Dale Bonner added 11 points, while Evan Mahaffey scored a season-high 10 points and added four rebounds and two steals.
“It felt great,” said Mahaffey, who was 4 of 7 from the floor and made his only three-point attempt after missing 11 shots and going scoreless in the last two games. “I was not putting my head down. I just kept trying to contribute in different areas. One of the biggest things with the last two games was being constant with my faith – not only my faith in the Lord but my faith in my game.
“I get in my head sometimes, but a lot of players do.”
Ohio State had some decided edges in points off turnovers (25-8), second chance points (25-9) and bench points (30-11). The Buckeyes held a 40-29 advantage in rebounding and pulled in 18 offensive rebounds (seven by Key).
Mahaffey and Key both liked OSU’s businesslike approach as they played they second of three games in a seven-day period. OSU downed Minnesota 84-74 in its Big Ten opener Sunday night and will return to conference play Saturday night at Penn State.
“This just shows we stay locked in no matter who we’re playing or when it is,” Mahaffey said. “That’s what you have to do to beat good teams.”
Key added, “We had great preparation and guys were locked in prepping for Miami (Ohio). It showed today. We started off slowly and they were hitting some shots. Credit to them. But our coaches put together a game plan and we executed it and we got the win.”
The Buckeyes moved into the top 25 in the coaches poll at No. 25 on Monday. They are just outside the top 25 in the Associated Press poll at No. 27.
Darweshi Hunter scored 15 points, Ryan Mabrey had 13 points and Jaquel Morris added 11 points and 10 rebounds for Miami (Ohio) (4-4)
Ohio State led 39-26 at the half. Miami actually outshot OSU from the floor in the first half, 44 percent to 38 percent. But OSU had a 10-2 edge in made free throws, a 16-0 edge in points off turnovers and a 15-4 advantage in second chance points. Miami had nine first-half turnovers to two for OSU.
Thornton had 11 points, Gayle 10 and Battle eight in the first half for OSU. Hunter led Miami with seven first-half points.
The teams traded baskets early, but Miami held the lead until Gayle stole an errant pass and went in for a jam to put the Buckeyes up 10-9. Miami regained the lead at 13-12 in a shot inside by Bryce Bultman.
OSU regained the lead on a pair of Thornton free throws and went ahead 17-13 after Thornton splashed a three. Zed Key had a jam off a Gayle pass and a pair of Key free throws made it 21-13.
OSU’s Dale Bonner hit a three for a 24-15 lead. OSU’s next six points came at the foul line. The Buckeyes went ahead 32-19 as Thornton drove for a layup with 4:15 left in the half.
Thornton canned a three on and inbounds play. Evan Mahaffey then had a steal, leading to a Key jam and OSU’s biggest lead of the half at 37-21 with 2:49 left.
Gayle hit a jumper in the lane off a pass from Battle in the closing seconds of the half as OSU led 39-26 at the break.
The Buckeyes largely traded baskets with the RedHawks in the first six minutes of the second half. Thornton hit a three off an inbounds pass for a 51-35 lead. But Miami cut the gap to 51-39 after a layup by Evan Ipsaro and a hook in the lane by Reece Potter.
OSU’s Thornton drew a double team on the left wing and dished to Scotty Middleton, whose three from the left corner made it 54-39 with 13:17 left.
Battle then found Key for an alley oop and a 56-39 lead. The Buckeyes began to extend the lead. Gayle scored on a back door cut for a 58-41 lead. Battle then tallied on a rebound and hit a three for a 63-44 lead with 8:44 left.
The lead went to 22 at 66-44 with 6:55 left as Mahaffey took a Key pass, scored inside, was fouled and hit the free throw.
Freshman Devin Royal tallied on a reverse and Bonner hit a three off an inbounds play. Key then scored on a rebound for a 73-47 lead with 5:15 left. Miami never got closer than 20 points after that.
