Dukes Feels Buckeye Pressure – Ohio State Buckeyes
12/4/1999 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Dec. 4, 1999%^$
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%^$%^$Box Score|%^$Quotes|%^$Notes|%^$Interview%^$%^$
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By ANDY RESNIK
%^$Associated Press Writer
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COLUMBUS, Ohio – It took No. 15 Ohio State three games to regain its%^$Final Four form.%^$
Using the pressure defense and fast-break offense that was its trademark%^$last season, Ohio State routed Duquesne 87-55 Saturday night in the second game%^$of the Black Coaches Association Classic.%^$
Ohio State (2-1) lost its season opener to Notre Dame in the Preseason NIT%^$and beat Vermont on Wednesday despite a sluggish first half. The outcome on%^$Saturday night was in doubt only for about eight minutes.%^$
The Buckeyes used a 14-0 run midway through the first half, followed by a%^$16-3 surge after Duquesne (2-2) broke a seven-minute scoreless streak, to take%^$a 42-20 halftime lead and cruise to victory.%^$
“Everything gets helped by making shots,” said Ohio State coach Jim%^$O’Brien. “We didn’t make shots against Notre Dame and we struggled. Tonight we%^$made shots and looked better.”%^$
Scoonie Penn had 16 points, and Michael Redd and George Reese had 15 each as%^$the Buckeyes – like last season when they reached the Final Four before losing%^$to eventual national champion Connecticut in the semifinals – scored quickly%^$off missed shots, turnovers and blocked shots.%^$
It was more of the same in the second half. Ohio State’s up-tempo attack and%^$half-court execution got the Buckeyes a 40-point lead before Duquesne hit a%^$couple late baskets against Ohio State’s reserves.%^$
“We jumped on them and stayed aggressive,” Redd said. “This is how we%^$should win every game.”%^$
Freshman Cobe Ocokoljic started Ohio State’s first surge with two offensive%^$rebounds and an 8-foot turnaround jumper, and Penn hit a 3-pointer to give Ohio%^$State the lead for good, 17-14.%^$
On Ohio State’s next trip, Redd followed Penn’s missed 3-pointer with a%^$layup, and Penn scored on a driving layup after Ken Johnson’s blocked shot for%^$a 21-14 lead.%^$
Shawn Tann’s 3-pointer ended the run and made it 26-17, but Ohio State%^$scored the next nine points, sparked by a steal and layup from Reese and a%^$Reese jumper following Will Dudley’s block, to go up 35-17.%^$
“They hit some early 3-pointers to keep them in the game and keep their%^$confidence up,” Penn said. “But as you know, when you start missing them,%^$that allowed us to start running and get in our game. And that’s what%^$happened.”%^$
Redd led Ohio State with 11 rebounds. Reese added nine rebounds, Johnson had%^$12 points Ocokoljic scored nine as the Dukes, using mostly perimeter players%^$once they fell behind, had trouble with Ohio State’s big men.%^$
“We felt they were going to have a hard time guarding us with that kind of%^$lineup, and it worked out pretty nicely,” O’Brien said.%^$
The Dukes hit just 7-of-29 shots in the first half, missing 11 of their last%^$13. They hit 17-of-60 for the game, including 11-of-28 3-pointers.%^$
Wayne Smith was the only Dukes player to reach double figures, finishing%^$with 24. He also had 10 rebounds and four of Duquesne’s 11 turnovers.%^$
Ohio State had just four turnovers and won the rebound battle 51-37 while%^$holding the Dukes, who came in averaging 81.3 points a game, to a season low%^$55.%^$
“Obviously we didn’t shoot well,” said Duquesne’s Matt Barker. “We took a%^$lot of bad shots in the first half. They pounded us on the boards on and%^$dominated inside.%^$
“The main problem in the game was that they executed their stuff and we%^$didn’t execute ours.”%^$
O’Brien said he is pleased with how the team is progressing, but cautioned%^$about being too optimistic after one performance that resembled last season.%^$
“We’ve played three games, we’re making progress, we’re getting better.%^$It’s the same type of process that we went through a year ago, and that’s where%^$we are,” he said.%^$
Kent defeated Youngstown State 72-53 in the first game of the doubleheader.%^$
