Men’s Basketball Postgame Notes at Cleveland State – Ohio State Buckeyes
12/18/2007 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Ohio State (7-3, 0-0 Big Ten) 80, Cleveland State (7-4; 0-0Horizon League) 63
Quicken Loans Arena
Cleveland, Ohio
Dec. 18, 2007
Attendance: 12,715
Postgame Notes
The game Tuesday was the first road game against an interstate rival for the Buckeyes since 1994 when Ohio State took on the Vikings Dec. 17.
With the win, the Buckeyes now are 51-10 all-time against the Horizon League and 2-1 this season. Ohio State also is now 6-1 all-time against Cleveland State.
The win for the Buckeyes is their first in the city of Cleveland since 1969.
Since being inserted to the starting lineup Evan Turner has seen his scoring average climb from 3.8 point per game to 9.7 ppg.
After J’Nathan Bullock 3-point basket tied the game at 3-3 at 18:37 of the first half, the Buckeyes went on a 14-0 run. The run was lead by Othello Hunter, who scored four points during the stretch including the third 3-point basket of his career.
By holding Cleveland State to less than 40 percent shooting in the first half, Ohio State has held its opponents at 40 percent shooting or less in five consecutive halves.
The Buckeyes held Cleveland State to just 29 percent (9-31) shooting in the first half. Ohio State held the Vikings to just 36.4 percent (24-66) shooting for the game
Ohio State shot 45.5 percent (5-12) from the 3-point line in the first half while holding Cleveland State to just 33.3 percent (3-9) from behind the arc. For the game, the Buckeyes shot 54.5 percent (12-22) from behind the 3-point line and held Cleveland State to 23.1 (3-13) percent. This is the second consecutive game Ohio State has shot over 50 percent from behind the 3-point arc.
At the helm of the Buckeyes, Matta is 38-6 in regular-season non-conference games.
Ohio State has held its opponents to 70 or fewer points in 39 of its last 47 games.
Jamar Butler continues to establish himself as one of the most prolific three-point shooters in Ohio State history. Butler had another solid game on Tuesday going 2-4 from behind the arc. Butler already is the all-time leader in made 3-point field goals and is eighth in career 3-point field goal percentage. Butler now is tied with Brian Brown (.378, 107-283, 1999-02) for seventh-place all-time.
Ohio State led 35-25 at halftime Tuesday. The Buckeyes have won 39 of their last 42 games when leading at halftime and is 76-9 when leading at the halfway mark under Matta.
Butler dished out six assists in the contest for a career total of 411, good for No. 6 on the all-time career list. The senior is only six helpers behind No. 5 Ron Stokes (1982-85/419) on the career assist chart. During his tenure at Ohio State, the Buckeyes are 44-8 when Butler has four or more assists. Tuesday was Butler’s second consecutive game with six or more assists.
David Lighty and Turner posted career highs in assists Tuesday. Lighty dished eight and Turned handed out four helpers.
