Men’s Hoops Downed by Hurricanes, 72-64 – Ohio State Buckeyes
12/27/1998 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
December 27, 1998
Box Score
SUNRISE, Fla. – Senior Tim James scored a career-high 29 points and the Miami Hurricanes earned their first victory over a Big Ten team Sunday, beating Ohio State 72-64 in the Orange Bowl Basketball Classic.
Miami had been 0-11 previously against the Big Ten.
The Hurricanes improved to 7-2 with their fifth consecutive win. Ohio State, which had won five in a row, fell to 11-3.
The game was part of a doubleheader at the Florida Panther’s new arena that drew a crowd of 11,051. Florida beat Michigan 79-63 in the first game.
Miami raced to a 20-6 lead as Ohio State missed 15 of its first 17 shots. The Buckeyes closed to within 32-29 early in the second half, but got no closer.
James hit three straight baskets for the Hurricanes, giving them a 46-35 lead with 11:20 left. He converted a 3-point play with a steal and lay up to make the score 61-54 with 1:40 left to go.
James hit 11 of 19 shots, grabbed 11 rebounds, blocked five shots and made three steals in 33 minutes. Teammate Vernon Jennings scored 19 points, and Johnny Hemsley added 14.
Michael Redd led Ohio State with 19 points. Jon Sanderson added 13 and Scoonie Penn 11. Redd and Penn combined to shoot just 10-for-37 as the Buckeyes shot 36 percent.
Miami had been 0-1 previously against Ohio State. The Hurricanes are 0-4 against Penn State, 0-2 against Wisconsin and Michigan, and 0-1 against Purdue and Illinois.
