Men’s Hoops Headed to Puerto Rico – Ohio State Buckeyes
12/18/1998 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
December 18, 1998
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%^$Buckeyes head to Puerto Rico with 8-2 record after win over FAU
%^$ Scoonie Penn scored 21 points as Ohio State matched its win total from%^$a year ago with a 99-70 victory over Florida Atlantic. The victory moved%^$the Buckeyes, 8-22 a year ago, to 8-0 at the new $110-million Value City%^$Arena. Michael Redd led the Buckeyes with 26 points. Jon Sanderson added%^$14 and Boban Savovic 10. Damon Arnette scored 28 points and Rino Bevis%^$had 12. %^$
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%^$The Buckeyes found themselves in a ballgame midway through the%^$opening half. Arnette’s bucket at the 8:34 mark pulled the Owls to%^$27-25. But the Buckeyes came right back on Sanderson’s 10-footer and,%^$after Arnette missed a 3-pointer, Penn popped in a short shot to make it%^$31-25. The Owls never got closer than four points again. Sanderson’s%^$layup off a Penn assist at the 7:17 mark ignited a 10-0 run. Penn scored%^$five points in the surge and assisted on two other baskets. Florida%^$Atlantic was 0-for-7 from the field to the Buckeyes’ 4-for-6 during the%^$run. Ahead 55-36 at the half, the Buckeyes reeled off 19 of the first 23%^$points of the second half for a 74-40 lead — their largest of the game.%^$
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%^$Noting the game with FAU
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Ohio State is now 1-0 against Florida Atlantic and 5-0 againstthe%^$Trans-America Atlantic Conference after the 99-70 win.%^$OSU’s 99 points are the most this year, bettering the 92 pointsscored%^$against Tennessee-Martin last Monday. The 99 points arealso the most%^$since a 102-point effort on Dec. 14, 1996 againstGeorge Mason.%^$ Ohio State’s has connected on at least onethree-point field goal%^$attempt in each of the last 194 games.Michael Redd extended the streak%^$with a trey at the 18:01 mark ofthe first half. %^$ Redd also extended a personal streak of hisown. With his 26-point%^$performance, Redd has now scored in doubledigits in 18 consecutive%^$games and in 39 of his 40 career games.His first field goal of the%^$contest was No. 300 for hiscareer.%^$
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Ohio State had three players (Penn, Redd, Sanderson) in doublefigures%^$by halftime. OSU had four players in double figures forthe second%^$consecutive game…Boban Savovic finished with 10points.%^$ Ohio State’s 55 points in the first half are theBuckeyes’ second-most%^$in a half this year. OSU racked up 58points in the first half of the%^$season-opening win over OaklandUniversity.%^$ Redd’s six three-pointers are tied for thethird-most in a game in OSU%^$history. Jay Burson holds the recordwith nine in a Dec. 27, 1988 game%^$against Florida.%^$
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Ohio State last scored 90 points in consecutive games duringthe%^$1996-97 season. OSU tallied 97 against Long Island and then102 against%^$George Mason.%^$ Kwadjo Steele set a career-high withfour points in the contest. %^$ OSU’s 11 made 3-point goals aretied for the third-most in school%^$history. The Buckeyes have hit11 3-pointers in a game three times this%^$year and also set therecord with 13 earlier this season vs. Oakland.%^$ Ohio State isnow 8-2 on the season. This is the quickest an OSU team%^$hasequaled the previous season’s win total in school history (witha%^$minimum of eight victories). The previous record was during the1915-16%^$(9-13)-1916-17 (15-11) seasons.%^$ Jon Sanderson setseason-highs in assists (5) and rebounds (7) in the%^$game. He alsotallied 14 points, his second-highest output this year.%^$
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%^$WBNS-TV to televise all three games live in Puerto Rico
%^$ 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 live 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. All OSU%^$games will air live on WBNS Radio (AM 1460 and FM 97.1).%^$
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%^$Buckeye starters scoring high from the field
%^$ The five players who have started each game for Ohio State this season%^$are knocking down 54 percent of their shots this season (212-395).%^$Senior Jason Singleton leads the way with a 71.4 scoring average%^$(35-49). That would be good enough for the No. 6 spot nationally but he%^$has not averaged the NCAA minimum of five field goals per game to%^$qualify for national rankings. Ken Johnson (.569), Jon Sanderson (.563)%^$and Scoonie Penn (.500) are the other starters averaging .500 or more.%^$Michael Redd (.482) rounds out the starting five. %^$
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%^$Ohio State makes quickest turnaround in school history
%^$ Ohio State equalled its win total from last season with the win over%^$Florida Atlantic (99-70). The win over the Owls, marked the quickest an%^$OSU team equalled the previous season’s win total in school history%^$(minimum eight victories). OSU finished the 1997-98 campaign with an%^$8-22 mark and reached that total Dec. 17. The previous record for%^$quickest turnaround from one season to the next was during the 1915-16%^$to 1916-17 seasons. OSU was 9-13 in 1915-16. The Buckeyes won their%^$ninth game the following year Jan. 13, 1917 against Oberlin (38-14). OSU%^$finished 15-11 that season. %^$
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%^$Radojevic leads JC team to No. 3 ranking at season midpoint
%^$ 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%^$(Ra-DOY-yo-vitch), a 7-3, 245-pound center, is ranked with the Top 15%^$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. Radajevic, the only returning sophomore at%^$Barton Country (Kan.) Community College, has helped his team to a 14-0%^$record and a No. 3 national ranking in the NJCAA. He has averaged 12.9%^$points and 7.6 rebounds to go along with 49 blocks this season. %^$
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%^$UAB 7-3 after loss to Princeton
%^$ Brian Earl scored 18 points and Gabe Lewullis had 13 points and eight%^$rebounds to lead Princeton to a 69-57 victory over Alabama-Birmingham%^$Tuesday. The Tigers (5-2) shot 56 percent from the floor in the second%^$half while the Blazers (7-3) cooled off after a hot-shooting first half.%^$Princeton also made 18-of-21 free throws and committed just nine%^$turnovers. Mason Rocca scored 12 points for the Tigers while Chris Krug%^$finished with 10 points and eight rebounds. Lewullis also had four%^$steals and three assists. Fred Williams led UAB with 14 points and eight%^$boards while Eric Holmes scored 11 points. The Blazers trailed 31-26 at%^$halftime despite shooting 55 percent. Their shooting tailed off to 39%^$percent in the second half. Earl was 2-for-5 from 3-point range, tying%^$Sean Jackson’s Princeton mark with 235 in his career. UAB has lost two%^$straight after a six-game winning streak.%^$
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%^$Blazers looking to rebound after losses to Auburn and Princeton
%^$ UAB began the season 7-1 before consecutive losses to No. 19 Auburn%^$(77-64, 12/12) and Princeton (69-57, 12/15). The only other loss was at%^$the hands of Indiana in Bloomington Nov. 18, 91-54. Wins this season%^$have come over Alcorn State, Tulsa, Cleveland State, South Alabama,%^$Texas-Arlington, Western Kentucky and Jacksonville State.%^$
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%^$OSU to meet Blazers for first time
%^$ Ohio State and Alabama-Birmingham will meet for the first time when the%^$teams tip off at the Puerto Rico Holiday Classic. The Buckeyes own a%^$32-20 (.615) record over members of Conference USA. OSU has faced eight%^$other 12 league teams with St. Louis playing the most games against the%^$Buckeyes (11-6). Ohio State has not met UAB, DePaul, UNC-Charlotte or%^$Southern Mississippi. %^$
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%^$OSU vs. Conference USA
%^$Alabama Birmingham
%^$Cincinnati 4-4
%^$DePaul
%^$Houston 3-0
%^$Louisville 4-2
%^$Marquette 5-4
%^$Memphis 1-0
%^$North Carolina Charlotte
%^$South Florida 0-2
%^$Southern Mississippi
%^$St. Louis 11-6
%^$Tulane 4-2
%^$Totals 32-20
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%^$Murry Bartow at UAB
%^$ UAB’s Murry Bartow is in his third season as the Blazer head coach,%^$after serving seven years as an assistant coach on the UAB staff. The%^$son of legendary coach Gene Bartow, Murry played at UAB from 1980-85 and%^$began his coaching career as a graduate assistant on coach Bob Knight’s%^$staff at Indiana (1985-87) and later was a full-time assistant at%^$William and Mary for two seasons (1987-89). %^$
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%^$OSU three-point field goal streak extended to 194
%^$ Ohio State has connected on at least one three-point field goal attempt%^$over the last 194 games. Sophomore Michael Redd extended the streak with%^$a trey early in the first half against Florida-Atlantic. 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%^$opponents have a streak of 185-consecutive games with at least one%^$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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%^$Buckeye bits…
%^$ OSU is 8-0 when leading at the half…The Buckeye bench has outscored%^$the opponents in eight of 10 games for a total 250-172 advantage…30%^$times a member of the Buckeyes have scored in double figures this%^$season, Michael Redd has been in double digits in each game, Scoonie%^$Penn seven times…Ten different Buckeyes have scored in double figures%^$this season…Redd has scored in double figures in 39 of 40 career%^$games, including the last 27…He has five career double-doubles.%^$
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%^$Opponents shooting 39.3 percent
%^$ Ohio State has held 6 of 10 opponents under 40 percent shooting this%^$season. Opponents are shooting just 39.3 percent overall from the field%^$(221-563). 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 49 percent on the season (301-614) after%^$connecting on 35 of 67 shots (.522) against UT Martin.%^$
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%^$Aggressive defense helps OSU
%^$ Not only is the Ohio State defense holding opponents to under 40%^$percent shooting from the field, it has been blocking shots and helping%^$itself with steals as well. Ohio State has blocked about three times as%^$many shots as its opponents (47-16) and has doubled its foes in steals%^$(90-45). Ken Johnson is the leading shot blocker with 28 while four%^$Buckeyes have 10 or more steals. Jason Singleton leads with 24 thefts%^$followed by Scoonie Penn (15), Michael Redd (14) and Brian Brown (11). %^$
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%^$A pair of Buckeyes could reach 1,000 points this season
%^$ Two Buckeyes could reach 1,000 career points this season. Senior Jason%^$Singleton (785) is just 215 short. Sophomore Michael Redd went over the%^$800 mark (841) with 22 vs. UT Martin. He followed that effort with 26%^$against Florida Atlantic. He is 159 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%^$two seasons at Boston College. He has scored 154 at Ohio State leaving%^$him 109 shy of 1,000 for his career.%^$
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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 seven assists and six steals and just%^$one turnover in 14.0 minutes a game this season…Has connected on his%^$last 17 free throws, though has not been to the line this season…needs%^$one assists to reach 200 for his career.%^$ %^$
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%^$ Scoonie Penn…Has seven double-digit scoring outings, including a%^$season-high 24 at Toledo…is shooting 50 percent from the field%^$(54-108), 43 percent from three-point range (22-51) and 73 percent from%^$the foul line (24-33)…shot just 32 percent from three-point range at%^$Boston College…has two or more threes in seven games…leads team in%^$minutes played with 309 (30.9)…Big Ten Player of the Week%^$(11/16)…has started all 66 games in which he has appeared…needs 3%^$FGs to reach 300 in career…has at least one assist in all but one game%^$in his career (Miami, 1/2/97).%^$ %^$
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%^$ Brian Brown…Third on team with 24 assists…has scored in every%^$game…shooting .450 (9-20) from three-point range…has connected from%^$long range in 7 of 10 games…has an assist in every game as a Buckeye%^$(10 gms)…played 14 or more minutes in every game.%^$ %^$
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%^$ Boban Savovic…Had career high 16 points against UT Martin…hit 6 of%^$8 shots vs. the Skyhawks, including 3 of 5 three-pointers…also added%^$three assists vs. UTM…connected on 5 of 6 FTs vs. Army…scored 10%^$points in that game with three assists in 22 minutes…has scored in%^$double figures in back-to-back games…has made his last seven%^$free-throw attempts.%^$ %^$
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%^$ Michael Redd…Leads team with 18.3 ppg…also has 19 assists and 14%^$steals…tied for lead in rebounding with 5.6 rpg…second on team in%^$minutes played with 29.0…has started all 40 OSU games in%^$career…leads team with 67 FGs this season…had career high six%^$three-pointers made vs. Oakland (11/13) and Florida Atlantic%^$(12/17)…25 of 56 rebounds this season are on offensive end…has at%^$least two rebounds in every game as a Buckeye (40).%^$ %^$
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%^$ Jason Singleton…Having a productive senior year…shooting .714%^$percent from the field (35-49)…hit 7 of 8 FTs to seal win over Alabama%^$(11/15/98)…has played in 93 games at OSU…leads team with 2,265%^$career minutes…needs five rebounds to reach 300 in career…has%^$connected on at least 60 percent of his shots from the field in 7 of 10%^$games this season.%^$ %^$
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%^$ Devon Smith…Has appeared in three games…played 10 minutes in win%^$over Army (11/22/98).%^$
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%^$ Kwadjo Steele…Had career high four points against%^$Florida-Atlantic…knocked down first career three-pointer against UT%^$Martin…has seen action in five games…scored two points in opener%^$against Oakland…grabbed three boards in win over Army.%^$ %^$
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%^$ 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.%^$Vanderbilt…leads team with 28 blocks…season total is already about%^$half of his total of 58 last season…seventh on all-time list with%^$86…has at least one block in 29 games as a Buckeye and 8 of 10 this%^$year…tied for team lead in rebounding with 5.6 rpg…Needs 17 rebounds%^$for 200 in career…is a career .507 FG shooter (108-213).%^$ %^$
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%^$ Jon Sanderson…Connected on 7 of 7 shots against Florida Atlantic%^$(12/17)…had season high 18 points vs. Army…connected on 6 of 13%^$(.462) from three-point range…one of four Buckeyes in double figures%^$against UT Martin (10 pts.)…has started 38 of 40 career games. %^$ %^$
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%^$ George Reese…Top player off the bench…in the game when it%^$counts…second on team with 21 (tied with Ken Johnson) offensive%^$rebounds…one of three Buckeyes making 70 percent of his FTs (25-34,%^$.735)…made all six FT attempts against Vanderbilt…has connected on%^$14 of 16 FTs in last four games…has one double figure scoring game and%^$six games with nine points.%^$ %^$
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%^$ Will Dudley…Has appeared in 8 of 10 games this season…shooting 65%^$percent from the field (11-17)…connected on all five shots against%^$Army for career best 11 points.%^$ %^$
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%^$ Shamar Herron…Had season high five points in win over Army…has%^$played in five games this season with high of 13 minutes against%^$Army…had seven rebounds vs. the Cadets…24 of his 55 career rebounds%^$have been on the offensive end of the floor.%^$
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%^$Buckeyes Celebrating 100 Years
%^$ Ohio State celebrates 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.%^$ %^$
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%^$ 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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%^$Michael Redd scores first Buckeye basket in Value City Arena
%^$ 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%^$tabbed as the preseason Big Ten Player of the Year. %^$
