Men’s Basketball Hopes to Bounce Back after Loss to Toledo – Ohio State Buckeyes
12/12/1998 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
December 12, 1998
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Freshman Justin Hall drove past three defenders and hit a layup with 5.7 seconds left to give Toledo 64-63 victory over Ohio State.
Toledo (6-0) led throughout most of the game and held a 62-58 advantage with 2:02 remaining before Ohio State (6-2) made a furious rally. The Buckeyes’ Brian Brown stole an inbounds pass with 20.1 seconds left to give Ohio State a 63-62 lead. Hall then drove the length off the floor for the winning shot. Ohio State’s Sconnie Penn missed a shot in the lane with two seconds left and Michael Redd’s tip-in was off the mark. Clayton Burch led Toledo with 19 points and Greg Stempin added 15 and led the Rockets down the stretch in the second half.
Sconnie Penn had 24 points to lead Ohio State. Redd added 16 for the Buckeyes. The Rockets led 36-25 at the half, but Penn sparked Ohio State’s first comeback with a pair of 3-pointers that pulled the Buckeyes to within 38-34 with 15:42 to play. The first half belonged to the Rockets thanks to Burch, who came into the game averaging six points a game. He hit his first six shots of the game, including four 3-pointers, and finished the half with 16 points. Penn and Redd had all but six of Ohio State’s 25 points in the first half. Ohio State also turned the ball over 11 times in the first half.
Noting the game with Toledo
The last two OSU games have gone down to the wire with Vanderbilt winning in overtime (11/28) after a tip-in at the end of regulation by junior center Ken Johnson sent the game in to the extra session. The loss to Toledo was the first one-point loss suffered by the Buckeyes since March 1, 1997 (56-55) at Penn State. Ohio State has an all-time record of 59-55 (.518) on games decided by one point.
Sophomore Michael Redd continued his string of consecutive games in double figures with 16.
Ohio State trailed for the second time at the half this season. The Buckeyes have won all six games when leading at the half and are 0-2 when trailing after the first 20 minutes.
Junior guard Scoonie Penn scored an OSU career high 24 points and tied a career best with five three pointers made. His career best in points is 27 against Seton Hall (1/14/96).
Toledo evened the all-time series at four victories each with Ohio State. The win over the Buckeyes was only the 13th by a member of the MAC. OSU is 47-13 all-time vs. MAC schools.
Junior center Ken Johnson blocked two shots against the Rockets. It was the sixth consecutive game he has recorded at least two and the seventh time in eight outings this season. He leads the team with 27 rejections this season. The Buckeyes have an advantage of 44-15 over opponents in blocks this season.
Johnson 8th nationally in blocks
Ohio State junior Ken Johnson ranks No. 10 nationally in blocked shots with 27 this season after his two rejections against Toledo. Johnson ranks second in the Big Ten behind Joel Przybilla of Minnesota, who is tied for the national lead (12/8).
Blocks Gm Bk Avg. 1 Alvin Jones, Ga. Tech 6 30 5.0 Joel Przybilla, Minnesota 5 25 5.0 10 Ken Johnson, OSU 8 27 3.4
Buckeye recruiting class among nation’s best
After the conclusion of the early 1998-99 recruiting season, the Ohio State class of Brent Darby, a 6-0, 185-pound guard, Slobodan Ocokoljic (o-SOAK-o-litch) a 6-8, 210-pound forward and Aleksandar Radojevic (Rad-A-yev-itch), a 7-3, 245-pound center, is ranked with the Top 15 classes nationally. Hoopscoop has OSU tied at No. 15 with Kansas. Basketball Times rates the class No. 14 and Van Coleman of Future Stars rates the class No. 11.
O’Brien looking for win No. 250
Ohio State head coach Jim O’Brien will be looking for victory No. 250 against Tennessee-Martin. O’Brien has a record of 249-241 in 17 seasons as a collegiate head coach. He is 14-24 at Ohio State. He posted records of 67-51 at St. Bonaventure and 168-166 at Boston College prior to joining Ohio State.
UT-Martin falls to 3-5 with loss to Morehead State, 74-64
Three Skyhawks scored 17-points or more against Morehead State (Dec. 5) but it was not enough as Morehead claimed a 74-64 victory in Ohio Valley Conference play. UT-Martin forward Joe Crumby led the Skyhawks with 19 points while center Ryan DeMichael and guard Jason Ohlsen each chipped in 17. No other player scored more than five in the loss. The Skyhawks have won two of their last three games with a 78-53 win over Bethel (11/30) and a 74-63 overtime victory over conference rival Eastern Kentucky (12/3). The other victory came in the season opener against Lyon College, 74-56. Losses this season have come at the hands of Evansville, at Bradley, at Illinois and at Mississippi State.
Ohio State to meet Skyhawks for first time
The Buckeyes will face Tennessee- Martin for the first time in the history of the two schools. OSU has an overall record of 4-0 with single victories over Eastern Kentucky and Tennessee State and two wins over Tennessee Tech, including a 78-51 win earlier this season at Value City Arena (11/24). The other teams that make up the OVC are Austin Peay, Eastern Illinois, Middle Tennessee State, Morehead State, Murray State and Southeast Missouri State.
Cal Luther at UT-Martin Cal Luther is in his eighth season at UT-Martin. He has compiled a record of 62-136 at the school and an overall mark of 489-449 in 38 years in the coaching ranks.
OSU three-point field goal streak extended to 192
Ohio State has connected on at least one three-point field goal attempt over the last 192 games. Junior Scoonie Penn extended the streak with a trey early in the first half against Toledo. Penn has extended the streak in each of the last four games and five times this season. The last time an OSU team missed all attempts from three-point range was Feb. 2, 1992 when the Bucks went 0 for 5 in a 68-58 OSU win over Michigan. Buckeye opponents have a streak of 184-consecutive games with at least one three-pointer made. Michigan went 0-10 from long range March 3, 1992 in an OSU 75-66 victory, marking the last time an opponent was held without a three-pointer.
OSU defense forcing mistakes
The Buckeye defense has forced the opposition to turn the ball over 20 or more times in five of eight games this season. Ohio State has forced 167 miscues in eight games. The Buckeyes forced an average of 15.9 turnovers a game last season and 20 or more in seven games. OSU foes are averaging 20.9 TOs this season.
Buckeye bits…
OSU is 6-0 when leading at the half…The Buckeye bench has outscored the opponents in six of eight games for a total 185-142 advantage…22 Buckeyes have scored in double figures this season, Michael Redd has been in double digits in each game, Scoonie Penn six times…Ten different Buckeyes have scored in double figures this season…Redd has scored in double figures in 37 of 38 career games, including the last 25…He has five career double-doubles.
Opponents shooting 38.7 percent
Ohio State has held five of eight opponents under 40 percent shooting this season. Opponents are shooting just 38.7 percent overall from the field (173-447). Ohio State has been held under 40 percent just once. Penn State allowed the Buckeyes to connect on 26 of 66 attempts for 39.4 percent. OSU is shooting 47 percent on the season (229-489).
Three Buckeyes could reach 1,000
Three Buckeyes could reach 1,000 career points this season. Senior Neshaun Coleman (657) needs 343 points and classmate Jason Singleton (767) is just 233 short. Sophomore Michael Redd (793) is 207 shy after his record-setting freshman campaign (658 pts.). Another Buckeye, junior Scoonie Penn, could reach 1,000 points as well for his career. He tallied 737 during two seasons at Boston College. He has scored 130 at Ohio State leaving him 133 shy of 1,000.
Michael Redd scores first Buckeye basket in Value City Arena
The clock showed 18 minutes, 20 seconds remaining in the first half when Buckeye sophomore Michael Redd squared and launched a left-handed three-pointer from the right wing. The attempt found the target, giving Ohio State a 3-0 lead, marking the first official basket made at Value City Arena. For Redd, it was just the start of a 29-point effort in leading the Buckeyes to an 89-61 victory. Redd made the first shot in each of the exhibition openers as well.
Redd considered for Wooden Award
Ohio State sophomore Michael Redd is on the preseason watch list as a candidate for the prestigious John R. Wooden Award, given annually to the nation’s top collegiate player. Redd is among 50 players under consideration this season.
Redd preseason all-Big Ten selection
Both the Big Ten coaches and media selected the same five players to their preseason all-Big Ten Teams at the annual media day festivities in Chicago (Oct. 25). Ohio State sophomore Michael Redd earned a selection along with Louis Bullock (Michigan), Mateen Cleaves (Michigan State), Evan Eschmeyer (Northwestern) and A.J. Guyton (Indiana). Cleaves was tabbed as the preseason Big Ten Player of the Year.
Buckeyes Celebrating 100 Years
Ohio State will celebrate 100 years of men’s basketball during the 1998-99 season. The Buckeyes first fielded a team in 1898, posting a record of 12-4. Since then, OSU has compiled a record of 1,264-902 (.584). Since joining the Big Ten, Ohio State has won or tied for 15 conference titles, winning 10 outright. OSU has an overall record in Big Ten games of 610-599 in 87 years of membership.
Along the way, the Buckeyes have produced 14 All-Americans, three Associated Press players of the year, 13 NBA first round draft picks, eight members of the National Basketball Hall of Fame, two U.S. Olympians and countless others national, international, conference and local award winners and team members.
Noting the Buckeyes…
Neshaun Coleman…Has played double-digit minutes in seven games this season in a backup role…High of 11 points and three three-pointers against Oakland (11/13/98)…has six assists and six steals and just one turnover in 14.9 minutes a game this season…Has connected on his last 17 free throws, though has not been to the line this season…needs two assists to reach 200 for his career. Scoonie Penn…has six double-digit scoring outings in eight games, including a season-high 24 at Toledo…is shooting 52 percent from the field (47-91), 46 percent from three-point range (18-39) and 72 percent >from the foul line (18-25)…shot just 32 percent from three-point range at Boston College…has two or more threes in 6 of 8 games…has at least one steal in every game…leads team in minutes played with 253 (31.6)…In last four games is shooting 13 of 24 (.542) from three-point range…Big Ten Player of the Week (11/16)…Has started all 64 games in which he has appeared…needs 10 FGs to reach 300 in career…has at least one assist in all but one game in his career (Miami, 1/2/97). Brian Brown…Third on team with 19 assists…has scored in every game…shooting .444 (8-18) from three-point range…has connected from long range in 6 of 8 games…has an assist in every game as a Buckeye (8)…played 14 or more minutes in every game. Boban Savovic…connected on 5 of 6 FTs vs. Army…scored 10 points in that game with three assists in 22 minutes. Michael Redd…Leads team with 16.9 ppg…also has 15 assists and 13 steals…second in rebounding with 5.8 rpg…second on team in minutes played with 29.4…Nine field goals short of 200 for career…has started all 38 OSU games in career…needs seven points to reach 800…leads team with 50 FGs this season…had career high six three-pointers made vs. Oakland (11/13)…23 of 46 rebounds this season are on offensive end…has at least two rebounds in every game as a Buckeye (38). Jason Singleton…having a productive senior year…shooting 68.4 percent from the field (26-38)…Averages 8.0 pts., 4.5 rebs., and 23.1 minutes…hit 7 of 8 FTs to seal win over Alabama (11/15/98)…has 21 assists second on the team, 19 steals and six blocks…has played in 91 games at OSU, tied with senior Neshaun Coleman…leads team with 2,219 career minutes…needs 14 rebounds to reach 300 in career…has connected on at least 60 percent of his shots from the field in 6 of 8 games this season. Devon Smith…has appeared in three games…played 10 minutes in win over Army (11/22/98). Kwadjo Steele…has seen action in three games…scored two points in opener against Oakland…grabbed three boards in win over Army. Ken Johnson…Tied career high with 15 points at Vanderbilt (11/28/98)…Set career high with seven blocks against both Robert Morris and Vanderbilt…hit 7 of 8 shots from the field vs. Vanderbilt…leads team with 27 blocks…that total is already about half of his total of 58 last season…Seventh on all-time list with 85…has at least one block in 28 games as a Buckeye and 7 of 8 this year…leads team in rebounding with 6.3 rpg…Needs 23 rebounds for 200 in career…is a career .500 FG shooter (102-204). Jon Sanderson…Had season high 18 points vs. Army…connected on 6 of 13 (.462) from three-point range…has seven assists and six steals in 16.4 minutes a game…has started 36 of 38 career games. George Reese…Top player off the bench…in the game when it counts…second on team with 18 offensive rebounds and in FT shooting (20-28, .714)…made all six FT attempts against Vanderbilt…Has one double figure scoring game and five games with nine points. Will Dudley…Has appeared in 7 of 8 games this season…shooting 69 percent from the field (9-13)…connected on all five shots against Army for career best 11 points. Shamar Herron…Had season high five points in win over Army…played in three games this season with high of 13 minutes against Army…had seven rebounds vs. the Cadets…24 of his 52 career rebounds have been on the offensive end of the floor.
WBNS to televise three games in Puerto Rico
The Buckeyes will have every game on its 1998-99 schedule televised with the addition of the three games in Puerto Rico Dec. 21-23. WBNS (Channel 10) will air the games tape-delayed at 7 p.m. each night of the tournament. Ohio State will open with Alabama-Birmingham Dec. 21 and will play either N.C. State or Middle-Tennessee State Dec. 22. The opener against UAB will begin at 11 a.m. EST. All OSU games will air live on WBNS Radio (AM 1460 and FM 97.1).
