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Men's Basketball
Buckeyes Sink Florida Gulf Coast Behind Diebler’s Career Night
By Brandon CastelCOLUMBUS, Ohio — Jon Diebler had three chances to break Ohio State’s single-game three-point record Wednesday night.
Instead, the school’s all-time leader in threes had to settle for a record-tying nine makes from behind the arc as the second-ranked Buckeyes handled visiting Florida Gulf Coast 83-55.
“I’m just glad we won. I think last time, I hit eight threes at Northwestern and we lost,” said Diebler, who also scored a career-high 29 points.
“It’s just one of those nights I guess. Just feels like you can throw the ball in the ocean and it’s going to go in.”
The senior from Upper Sandusky connected on nine of his first 11 shots from long range, including five in the first half, but couldn’t sink the one he needed to top Jay Burson’s 22-year old school-record.
“Somewhere Jay Burson is taking a big sigh of relief,” said Tony White, who was on the court when Burson set the school record against Florida at Madison Square Garden back in Dec. 1988.
After making his record-tying ninth three with 6:16 to play in the game, Diebler had three more good looks at the record before Ohio State coach Thad Matta finally pulled him out of the game with 1:51 to play.
“Coach told me I had one more chance then he was going to take me out. I knew Eddie (Days) was coming in to get me,” said Diebler, who passed A.J. Guyton for 7th place all-time in Big Ten career 3-point field goals with 291.
The Buckeyes (9-0) probably didn’t need Diebler to score a single point the way Florida Gulf Coast (2-6) played offensively. The Eagles had more turnovers (16) than points (15) in the first half and were 6-of 19 from the floor. They trailed 42-16 at the break.
Ohio State didn’t shoot much better in the first half, missing but they only turned the ball over three times as they got out to an 18-3 lead over the first nine minutes of the game.
After missing his first two threes of the game, Diebler heard from head coach Thad Matta, who told his sharp-shooter to keep firing from outside.
“He told me I wasn’t ready to shoot,” said Diebler, who had his 10th career game with six or more 3-point field goals.
“I knew I missed the first two and I got ready and got my feet set and it happened for me. Everyone did a great job of getting the ball to me in open areas.”
Diebler would make his next five in a row and the Buckeyes built a 26-point halftime lead. Eagles coach Dave Balza told his players to sell out on Diebler in the second half, but they still couldn’t stop him from hitting his first four from behind the arc in that half either.
“Even when we made a point at halftime of really overselling and getting to Diebler, they took advantage of throwing it to (Jared) Sullinger,” Balza said.
“But Sullinger kicks it right back out and they make the extra pass and Diebler still knocks it down.”
After he made his first three at the 11:37 mark of the first half Diebler connected on nine in a row before finally missing again at the 4:37 mark of the second half.
“I don’t know if I’ve made that many in a row in a game,” said Diebler, who finished the game 9-of-14 behind the arc.
“I don’t even know (if I’ve done that) in scrimmage or in practice either. Maybe just shooting around.”
Junior William Buford also had a milestone night. He became the 47th player in Ohio State history—and the third player on this current Buckeye team—to crack the 1,000-point mark for his career. After starting the game slow, Buford finished with 17 points, six rebounds and three assists in 30 minutes.
With Florida Gulf Coast trapping the post, Sullinger was held to just two points in the first half thanks in large part to his two fouls. He responded by scoring seven of Ohio State’s first 12 points in the second half. He finished with 11 points and three rebounds.
The Buckeyes are back in action Saturday against South Carolina (2 p.m. ET, ESPN), and there’s no telling who will lead them in scoring.
“Jon may not get 29 the next game or Jared may not get 40, but who could it be,” Matta asked rhetorically.
“That's what I love about coaching this team.”
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