Post Game Quotes From Ohio State vs. Virginia Tech – Ohio State Buckeyes
12/6/2003 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Dec. 6, 2003
Recap| Box Score| Quotes
Attendance: 14, 248
Ohio State vs. Virginia Tech Game Notes
In the 62-57 win Saturday, the Buckeyes set season highs inrebounds (43), field goal attempts (53), three-point attempts (18)and tied the season-high with five blocked shots. The Buckeyes felltwo field goals shy of tying the season best of 25 againstVillanova and one three-point bucket away from tying theseason-best of seven against San Francisco in the season-opener.The Buckeyes held Virginia Tech to a season-low 57 points on aseason-worst 30.3 percent shooting percentage.
Virginia Tech forward Bryant Matthews entered the game Saturday averaging more than 27 points per-game scoring average, including 36 and 37-point performances in his last two games. Saturday, the Buckeyes held Matthews to a season-low 15 points on 6-of-17 shooting. Matthews had just four points on 2-of-7 shooting in the first half.
The game Saturday marked Ohio State’s fifth game away fromValue City Arena in its six contests to start the 2003 season andthe fourth game in a neutral setting this year. With the win, theBuckeyes improve to a 3-2 mark away from its home court and 3-1 atneutral sites this season. The game Saturday marked the fifthmeeting in the series between Ohio State and Virginia Tech. The62-57 Buckeye win served as the first in the series as Ohio Stateimproved to 1-4 all-time vs. Virginia Tech in a series that datesback to Dec. 18, 1972. Following the win Saturday, the Buckeyeshave a 54-38 record against teams representing the currentalignment of Big East teams. After the win Saturday and defeat ofVillanova (67-66) in the final game of the 2003 EA Sports MauiInvitational, the Buckeyes are 2-0 against the Big East thisseason. With the win Saturday, Ohio State upped its record to 10-5in games played on Dec. 6, winning five of the last six games onthis date. The Buckeyes recorded a 14-2 run from the 6:17 mark tothe 2:16 of the first half, following consecutive three pointers byjunior guard Tony Stockman, a three-point play by senior centerVelimir Radinovic and a fast break conversion by sophomore guardJ.J. Sullinger to set the score at 31-17. The Buckeyes scored 40points in the first half against Virginia Tech. The 40 points isthe second-most by the Buckeyes this season in the first period,falling two points shy of the 42 OSU scored against CentralMichigan in the second game of the Maui Invitational.
Ohio State Player Notes
Ohio State sophomore guard J.J. Sullinger scored the first 12points for the Buckeyes over the initial 10:07 of the game beforesenior center Velimir Radinovic scored a on a follow-up, leadingOhio State to a 14-13 edge at the 9:53 mark of play.
Sullinger scored the first seven points in the game, leading Ohio State to a 7-0 lead in the first three minutes of action. Sullinger was 5-5 during the 12-point spurt, including 2-2 from behind the three-point arc.
Sullinger also set a career-high in rebounds with 11, eclipsinghis seven caroms against Georgia Tech Wednesday. The 22-point,11-rebound effort serves as Sullinger’s first career double-double.The 22 points serves as Sullinger’s second-best scoring performancein his career, falling just two points shy of his 24 points againstSan Francisco to open the 2003-4 season. Radinovic finished thefirst half with seven points on 3-of-3 shooting from the field.Radinovic converted on all four of his field goal attempts againstGeorgia Tech Wednesday. Overall, Radinovic – 3-of-5 from the fieldfor the game – has made 12 of 15 FG attempts this season, for a.750 shooting percentage.
On the defensive end, Radinovic recorded three blocks, equaling his three-block performance against Georgia Tech Wednesday, which tied his previous career-high.
Radinovic also equaled his season-best with nine rebounds.
