No. 15 Ohio St. 79, American U. 43 – Ohio State Buckeyes
12/29/1999 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Box Score| Quotes| Notes| Interview
Dec. 29, 1999
By Rusty Miller
Associated Press
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Ken Johnson blocked two more shots than American University made in the first half as No. 15 Ohio State rolled to a 79-43 victory Wednesday night.
Johnson had eight blocks in the first half against the Eagles (5-5), who made just 6-of-29 shots (21 percent) in first 20 minutes as Ohio State (8-2) piled up a 45-15 lead.
American, averaging 69 points coming in, was held to its lowest point total since losing to Princeton 71-36 during the 1983-84 season.
Michael Redd, who had a 26-game streak in double figures end Monday night, led the Buckeyes with 19 points. Scoonie Penn added 15 points, and Will Dudley had 10 in Ohio State’s fourth win in a row.
Johnson and the rest of the starters saw only scant playing time in the second half. The 6-foot-11 senior didn’t block a shot in his seven minutes of action after halftime.
Tim Washington had 14 points for the Eagles, who ended up 17-of-58 from the field (29 percent). Washington had five field goals, but the other four starters were a combined 6-for-31.
Ohio State showed signs of coming out of a season-long shooting slump. The Buckeyes topped 50 percent shooting from the field for the second game in a row, going 31-of-59 (53 percent).
It also was the first time this season that Redd and Penn have each hit at least half of their shots in the same game.
Johnson blocked four shots in the last five minutes of the first half as the Buckeyes closed the half on an 18-3 run.
Penn, who came in hitting just 35 percent of his shots from the field, hit three consecutive 3-pointers in the final three minutes.
Penn finished 6-of-8 from the field, including 3-of-4 from 3-point range. Redd was 8-of-13 from the field.
With Johnson roaming the lane inside, American seemed content to stay as far out on the perimeter as possible. The Eagles hit just one of their first 17 shots from the field as the Buckeyes scored 15 of the first 17 points.
The teams combined for 44 turnovers, with the Eagles totaling 24.
