Athletics Good Stuff – Ohio State Buckeyes
12/26/2007 12:00:00 AM | General
Athletes of the Week
Kosta Koufos of the men’s basketball team led the Buckeyes with 17 points and 10 rebounds to secure his second-career double-double in the 62-49 win over Florida Dec. 22. For Ohio State, the freshman is averaging a team high 15.9 points and 6.6 boards per outing.
Scoring 15 points in her first 20 minutes of work against the Cornhuskers, Jantel Lavender of the women’s basketball team helped Ohio State to an 86-74 victory over Nebraska Dec. 22. Lavender, who has scored in double figures in all 11 outings as a Buckeye, ended the evening with 21 points in 33 minutes of play. On the season, the freshman from Cleveland, Ohio, leads the team in points (17.4 ppg), rebounds (10.0 rpg) and blocks (11).
Athletics Good Stuff
Men’s Basketball (8-3; 0-0 Big Ten)
Head Coach: Thad Matta
The Buckeyes have won four consecutive games, since dropping a 65-46 decision to Butler Dec. 1. In the streak, Ohio State has downed Coppin State (47-39), Presbyterian College (87-43), Cleveland State (80-63) and Florida (62-49).
The win over the Gators Dec. 22 was a rematch of the national championship game between Ohio State and Florida last April in Atlanta. The Buckeyes were national runner-up after losing, 84-75.
Guard Jamar Butler dished out five assists against Florida for a career total of 416, good for No. 6 on the all-time career list. The senior is only three helpers behind No. 5 Ron Stokes (1982-85/419) on the career assist chart. During his tenure at Ohio State, the Buckeyes are 45-8 when Butler has four or more assists.
Freshman Kosta Koufos notched the second double-double of his collegiate career, grabbing 10 boards and scoring 17 points.
Up Next: vs. UMBC, 11 a.m. Dec. 29 Value City Arena (Television: Big Ten Network)
at Illinois, 8 p.m. Jan. 3 in Champaign, Ill. (Television: ESPN)
vs. Northwestern, noon Jan. 6 in Value City Arena (Television: Big Ten Network)
No. 18 Women’s Basketball (9-2; 0-0 Big Ten)
Head Coach: Jim Foster
Ohio State has reeled off four consecutive wins, including victories in Value City Arena against Youngstown State and Nebraska. On Dec. 19, the Buckeyes defeated the Penguins, 84-50, before beating the Cornhuskers, 86-74, Dec. 22.
Freshman Jantel Lavender has scored in double figures every game as a collegian and completed the contest against Nebraska with 21 points in 33 minutes of action.
Up Next: at Michigan State, noon Dec. 30 in East Lansing, Mich. (Television: Big Ten Network)
vs. Michigan, 7 p.m. Jan. 3 in Value City Arena
at Iowa, 4 p.m. Jan. 6 in Iowa City, Iowa (Television: Big Ten Network)
Men’s Hockey (5-13-2; 2-9-1 CCHA)
Head Coach: John Markell
The Buckeyes posted an 0-1-1 mark against Alaska in Fairbanks, Alaska, losing a 2-1 decision Dec.14, but rallying from a 2-0 deficit to tie the game 2-all Dec. 15.
In the first contest of the two-game series, sophomore goalie Joseph Palmer tied his career high of 39 saves, matching the total he had at Michigan State Dec. 2, 2006.
In game two, senior Tommy Goebel’s goal was his team-best 10th of the season and his seventh power-play tally. He ranks third (tied) in the nation in power-play goals. Goebel is on a four-game scoring streak (3-1-4) and has a team-high 16 points.
Ohio State returns to action in the fourth annual Ohio Hockey Classic Dec. 29-30, marking the first time in which the tournament will be played on the Buckeyes’ home ice in Value City Arena. The OHC was held at Nationwide Arena in downtown Columbus the first three years before moving to the Ohio State campus this year because of a scheduling conflict.
In 2006, the Buckeyes defeated Miami to secure their first win in the tournament after finishing second to Colorado College in 2004 and Miami in 2005.
Up Next: Ohio Hockey Classic at Value City Arena
Dec. 29
Miami vs. St. Cloud State, 6:05 p.m.
Ohio State vs. Harvard, 9:05 p.m.
Dec. 30
Harvard vs. Miami or St. Cloud State, 5:05 p.m.
Ohio State vs. Miami or St. Cloud State, 8:05 p.m.
Ohio State Athletics Schedule
Dec. 28 – Dec. 31
Dec. 28
Men’s volleyball at Cay Club Invitational, TBA
Clearwater, Fla.
Dec. 29
Men’s basketball vs. Maryland-Baltimore County, 11 a.m.
Columbus, Ohio
Value City Arena
Dec. 29
Ohio Hockey Classic at Value City Arena
Miami vs. St. Cloud State, 6:05 p.m.
Men’s hockey vs. Harvard, 9:05 p.m.
Columbus, Ohio
Value City Arena
Dec. 30
Harvard vs. Miami or St. Cloud State, 5:05 p.m.
Men’s hockey vs. Miami or St. Cloud State, 8:05 p.m.
Columbus, Ohio
Value City Arena
Dec. 30
Women’s basketball at Michigan State, noon
East Lansing, Mich.
