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
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COLUMBUS, Ohio – Freshman Justin Hall drove past three defenders and hit a layup%^$with 5.7 seconds left to give Toledo 64-63 victory over Ohio State.%^$
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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%^$led the Rockets down the stretch in the second half. %^$
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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.
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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%^$all-time record of 59-55 (.518) on games decided by one point.
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Sophomore Michael Redd continued his string of consecutive games in%^$double figures with 16.%^$
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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.
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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).
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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.
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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.
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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 %^$10 Ken Johnson, OSU 8 27 3.4%^$%^$
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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%^$rates the class No. 11.
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O’Brien looking for win No. 250 %^$
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%^$168-166 at Boston College prior to joining Ohio State.
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UT-Martin falls to 3-5 with loss to Morehead State, 74-64%^$
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%^$Evansville, at Bradley, at Illinois and at Mississippi State.
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Ohio State to meet Skyhawks for first time%^$
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%^$State.
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Cal Luther at UT-Martin Cal Luther is in his eighth season at%^$UT-Martin. He has compiled a record of 62-136 at the school and an%^$overall mark of 489-449 in 38 years in the coaching ranks.
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OSU three-point field goal streak extended to 192 %^$
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%^$a three-pointer.
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OSU defense forcing mistakes %^$
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.%^$
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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%^$games, including the last 25…He has five career double-doubles.
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Opponents shooting 38.7 percent %^$
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%^$percent on the season (229-489).
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Three Buckeyes could reach 1,000 %^$
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.%^$
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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%^$each of the exhibition openers as well.
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Redd considered for Wooden Award %^$
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.%^$Redd is among 50 players under consideration this season.
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Redd preseason all-Big Ten selection %^$
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.
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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.
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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%^$career rebounds have been on the offensive end of the floor.%^$
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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).
