Men's Basketball
Buckeyes Capture Exhibition Opener, 77-67
By John Porentas
New OSU Head Basketball Coach Thad Matta took the wraps
off his first OSU basketball team tonight and the Buckeyes came through
with a 77-67 exhibition win over Division II opponent Northern Kentucky
in The Value City Arena before an announced crowd of 11,458.
OSU senior center Terence Dials led all scorers with
22 points in a scoring performance that featured 10-of-11 free throw
shooting and six-of-13 shooting from the field.
"He actually, with is back to the basket and just
catching and making moves, was the best post player we faced,"
said Northern Kentucky Head Coach Dave Bezold whose team has played
both Kentucky and Cincinnati already this season.
Dials owned the interior but perhaps the most impressive
performance of the night came from newcomer Je'Kel Foster.
The 6-3 guard is a junior college transfer originally
from Natchez, Mississippi and was a first team junior college All-American
player last season. Foster scored 19 points and also was extremely
tenacious and quick on defense. He produced a game-high four steals
in the game to go with his 19 points.
Foster's game is a little like that of former Buckeye
Ronnie Stokes, but at 6-3 he has the size to match up defensively
with bigger guards and can hold his own inside as both a scorer and
rebounder. Foster's line included six-of-eight from the field, one-of-two
from three point range, six-for-six from the free throw line, two
rebounds and an assist.
Foster, who had several early steals in the game, said
his defensive effort sparked his offense.
"It helped me get into a rhythm. I kind of got
into a rhythm. after playing hard (on defense)," said Foster.
"I just tried to get my teammates into and play
team ball," Foster said.
The Buckeyes were efficient in the first half and steadily
built a ten point lead at the intermission at 38-28. They could not
extend their lead in the second half, however, and shot just 26.3%
from the field in the second half after hitting 53.3% in the first
half.
"I think offensively we were shooting a little
bit too quick," Matta said.
"The first half defensively we had some good moments,
(but) we've got to get defensively to where we can defend for 30 seconds
at a clip. I know we gave them a couple of buckets and fouled with
under 30 seconds on the shot clock, and that's something we have to
get tougher, we've go finish the play out, and I think we'll be able
to do that."
Matta used to game to experiment with different combinations,
but said after the game that the players who were on the floor the
most in the exhibition would most likely be those who would see the
most time this season as well. They included Foster and Dials, as
well as J. J. Sullinger, Ivan Harris, Tony Stockman and Jamar Butler,
all of whom logged 22 or more minutes.
Both Matt Sylvester and Matt Terwilliger logged 10
minutes in relief roles.
Ricardo Billings, Jermyl Jackson-Wilson and Matt Marinchck
all saw limited action in the game.
Point guard Brandon Fuss-Cheatham was not in action
due to the recent death of his mother in an auto accident. Matta indicated
that Fuss-Cheatham would also see significant playing time this season
at point guard. In his absence, Tony Stockman played at the point
against NKU.
"I think tonight we did some good things that we
wanted to get accomplished," said Matta.
"I think that it's consistency that we're looking
for," Matta said. "I think this was a great test for us,
the first time we played in front of fans, the first time we've tried
to get signals into them. I give those guys credit, I think we'll
be able to execute."
The game was the third exhibition of the season for
Northern Kentucky. They lost to Kentucky 91-73 on November 3, then
lost to Cincinnati on Monday night by a score of 103-68. Northern
Kentucky actually led Kentucky 41-38 at halftime. Against Cincinnati,
NKU was a bit shorthanded and just could not compete.
"People might see the score and say that Ohio State
only beat Northern by whatever it was and U. C beat them by 40, but
it's all about match ups," said Bezold.
"Against U. C., without (starter) Derek Smith,
we just couldn't combat that. Three of our starters didn't start against
U. C."
Notes
* NKU Head Coach Dave Bezold said that his team was
just a tad bit impressed with the facilities at OSU.
"You wouldn't believe how big their eyes get when
we get to pull the bus into the arena and then get off of
it and walk into these gorgeous locker rooms. We've got a new coat
of paint in our locker room, and we thought it was sent from heaven."
* OSU's Ja'Kel Foster drew the assignment of guarding
Northern Kentucky's Mike Kelsey. Kelsey scored 27 against Kentucky
but was held to 16 by Foster.
"He's our best player and one of the best shooters
in the nation regardless of division," said Bezold.
* Terence Dials had a good game overall, but did foul
out late in the game. With the lack of size on the squad this season,
Dials will not have the luxury of fouling out this season if the Buckeyes
are going to remain competitive.
"The coaches have told me that I have to stay in
the game," said Dials.
"In order to do that, I have to stay out of foul
trouble."
* Thad Matta was happy with the win, but was not happy
with OSU's assist to turnover ratio. OSU turned the ball over just
13 times, but could come up with only seven assists. Matta was not
happy with that number.
"All the teams that I've coached, whenever we've
had 20 assists, we've never lost. We're a long way from that, but
it's something we want to strive toward," said Matta.
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