Men's Basketball
Buckeyes Ride Fast Start to Win over Hoosiers
By John PorentasOhio State (12-3, 2-2 Big Ten) rode a torrent of three point shooting to build a 29-10 lead just over 10 minutes into the game, then coasted home to a 77-53 victory for their first win over Indiana (5-11, 0-4 Big Ten) since the 2006-07 season.
Jon Diebler, William Buford and Jeremie Simons combined for 11 threes in the first half, five of them by Diebler, as the Buckeyes stunned the Hoosiers with a torrid start that really determined the outcome of the game. The Buckeyes were 11-16 from downtown (68.8 percent) before the intermission and led 44-28.
"Obviously we got off to a very good start," said OSU Head Coach Thad Matta. "Our shot selection was very good. I thought we took good shots, but we let a couple go that we didn't need to let go," Matta said.
"Ohio State was outstanding shooting the basketball tonight," agreed Indiana Head Coach Tom Crean. "You've got to play so much attention to Jon Diebler and Evan Turner and to their post game, and you know William Buford is so capable of doing different things, but then he does them and Jeremie Simmons looks like an All-American guard there in the first half the way he shot the ball."
Usual Buckeye scoring leader Evan Turner played just six minutes in the first half due to foul problems and had just three points at the half. Turner logged 17 minutes in the second half and finished with 13.
The Buckeyes posted 15 assists in scoring 16 field goals in the first half while committing just five turnovers. For the game, OSU registered 23 assists on 28 made baskets. Point guard Jeremie Simmons led with eight helpers. Turner and Diebler added five each and Buford three more.
"We did a very good job sharing the basketball," said Matta. "I was pretty pleased with what we were able to do offensively tonight in sharing the basketball."
Matta said that sharing the ball on offense and creating more offensive flow has been a point of emphasis at OSU's practice sessions of late.
"We've been working on getting a sense of ball movement and spacing and timing," Matta said. "I think we're getting a little better understanding of that."
"They play like a veteran team the way they space and make the next pass," said Crean.
The Hoosiers managed to rally to within 13 early in the second half but could get no closer. Matta, however, said OSU's performance was not completely rosy.
"I felt like defensively at the end of the first half and late in the game we had some breakdowns," said Matta.
"When something is "easy" early and they're going in you have to be able to change gears, and we didn't do that as well as I'd like to tonight."
Ohio State extended the lead to as many as 25 as the second half played out. A total of five Buckeyes reached double figures in scoring including Diebler, Simons, Buford, B. J. Mullens and Turner. Buford's game-high 19 points tied his career high set in OSU's last game vs. Houston Baptist.
Game Notes:
* Kecman Out: The Buckeyes won the game but it was learned that yesterday they lost a player. Forward Nicola Kecman tore an ACL in practice yesterday and is out for the rest of the season. Kecman sat out the first 12 games due to an NCAA ruling for his participation on a team in Serbia on which there were professional players. He made his OSU debut against Houston Baptist logging 11 minutes, but will not return again this season due to the injury.
"It's huge," said Matta. "I feel for him. It's been a struggle with the 12 games he had to sit out.
"It was a freak thing last night when it happened," Matta said.
"He's a guy that we felt was going to be a contributor to what we were doing this year."
Ohio State has lost David Lighty to injury and point guard Noopy Crater transferred early this month leaving Matta's bench short. The return of Kecman would have helped that situation, but now he is out of the picture, leaving Matta scrambling at times, particularly if the Buckeyes encounter foul problems.
Matta quipped tongue in cheek that he might look toward the OSU football team for help.
"Pryor's not busy, is he?" Matta joked. "I think Cam Heyward is the guy who I need out there."
Matta was asked if Kecman could be granted a medical redshirt after logging just 11 minutes this season.
"I don't know. We're checking on that," Matta said. "I hope so for his sake. I'd hate for him to lose the season just like that with 11 minutes."
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