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#20 Ohio State 78, LSU 76 (final)

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12/31/05


LSU (7-3) vs. (21) Ohio St. (9-0)

LSU (7-3) vs. (21) Ohio St. (9-0)Preview - Box Score - Recap

Game Info: 1:00 pm EST Sat Dec 31, 2005
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Ja'Kel Foster has been impressive from the outside for Ohio State. Terence Dials is finally giving the team that kind of threat on the inside.

Dials looks for another strong performance as the 21st-ranked Buckeyes put their unbeaten record on the line Saturday against LSU.

Ohio State (9-0) is trying to go 10-0 for just the fourth time in school history and first time since winning its first 17 games in the 1990-91 season.
Foster is among the nation's leaders in 3-point shooting, having made at least two in every game and shooting 59.6 percent (28-for-47) from beyond the arc.

While Foster has helped the Buckeyes average 79.8 points and nearly nine 3-pointers per game, Dials has been trying to establish himself as Ohio State's low-post threat to keep the needed spacing to give Foster open looks on the perimeter.

The senior center has averaged 18.3 points in the last three games, about seven more than his average through the season's first six contests.


Dials had 23 points in just 22 minutes Wednesday in Ohio State's 87-58 rout of Gardner-Webb. He made 8-of-13 from the field and grabbed nine rebounds.

"I had space and tried to get deep into the paint," said Dials, who is shooting 53.5 percent. "Once I get two feet in the paint I really don't have to do much but just turn and shoot."

Foster had 14 points and six steals for the Buckeyes, who forced 20 turnovers while committing just five. The senior guard also went 3-for-4 from 3-point range and is 12-for-18 beyond the arc his last three games.

LSU (7-3) has lost two of its last three games, including a 75-72 defeat last Friday to Cincinnati at the Las Vegas Holiday Classic. The Tigers committed 23 turnovers to offset a 40-20 points advantage in the paint and 38-25 edge in rebounding.

LSU point guard Tack Minor will miss this game with a torn meniscus in his left knee. Minor, who started all 30 games last season and averaged 10.8 points, played just three games this season.

"We are going to do everything that we can that is best for Tack Minor," Tigers coach John Brady said Wednesday. "It is best for him to go ahead with the surgery (Thursday) and get this repaired at this time."

The Tigers have a formidable inside-outside tandem of their own in center Glen Davis and guard Darrel Mitchell. The 310-pound Davis is averaging 18.7 points and 10.3 rebounds, and Mitchell is averaging a team-high 18.8 points while making 25 of LSU's 42 3-pointers. These teams played a memorable game in Baton Rouge last season, with the Tigers winning 113-101 in double overtime behind 29 points from NBA draft pick Brandon Bass.
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12/31/05

OSU MEN’S BASKETBALL
LSU’s big men pose big problems

Tigers lead nation in rebound margin, OSU’s weakest area

Saturday, December 31, 2005

Bob Baptist
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

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One of coach Thad Matta’s objectives in assembling a nonconference schedule is stocking it with teams that, collectively, will test his Ohio State men’s basketball team in about every way it will be tested in the Big Ten.

Coincidentally or not, the toughest test this year comes last.

The Buckeyes, whose largest questions heading into conference play next week concern rebounding and interior defense, have their final tuneup today against a Louisiana State team that ranks No. 1 in the nation in rebound margin and boasts the most imposing inside game OSU has faced.

Sophomore center Glen "Big Baby" Davis is 6 feet 9 and 310 pounds. He averages 18.7 points and 10.3 rebounds and has six double-doubles in LSU’s first 10 games. He had 15 points and 11 rebounds last year when the Tigers beat the Buckeyes in double overtime in Baton Rouge, La.

Freshman power forward Tyrus Thomas is 6-9 and 215. He averages 13.2 points and 9.5 rebounds. He also has six double-doubles and has blocked 24 shots. He had 12 points and 13 rebounds in his first start last week, against Cincinnati.

Freshman small forward Tasmin Mitchell, Mr. Basketball in Louisiana last season, is 6-7 and 230. He averages 11.2 points and 6.9 rebounds.

Together, the Tigers (7-3) are outrebounding opponents by almost 15 per game. They outrebounded the Buckeyes 43-23 and outscored them 36-22 in the lane last season.

"This is going to be the biggest challenge we’ve had and probably (will have) all season," OSU center Terence Dials said. "We’re going to have to send three or four guys to the (defensive) glass and try to do things we haven’t done in the past, and that’s try to box out every single possession and make sure there aren’t too many second-chance points. That’s probably the key to winning the game."

Ohio State (9-0), ranked No. 21 nationally, has not paid with a loss for the number of second chances it has given opponents (none has taken advantage for more than 12 points). But the shortcoming was glaring again Wednesday in an otherwise easy win over Gardner-Webb. The Bulldogs outrebounded the Buckeyes 43-36 and became the third team this season to claim 15 offensive rebounds against them.

With the Big Ten opener less than a week away — Thursday night at home against Penn State — Ohio State ranks 10 th among conference teams in rebound margin.

"We didn’t pursue the ball as well as we needed to (against Gardner-Webb)," Matta said. "I think that is something we have to have, the mind-set to come up with the basketball. LSU is leading the country in rebounding. We lead the country in balls that hit our hands and (we) don’t come up with them."

J.J. Sullinger leads Ohio State with 8.1 rebounds per game. Dials is next at 7.0. No one else averages as many as five.

"We definitely have to use this game as a tool to see how good we’re going to (be) against a good rebounding team because I think that’s one of the Big Ten’s strengths, rebounding and second-chance points," Sullinger said. "You look down the line, and you can name people on about seven different teams who are just beasts on the boards."

If the Buckeyes have an edge on the Tigers, it might be their experience and the fact they’re playing at home. Six of Ohio State’s top seven players are juniors and seniors. Six of LSU’s top nine are freshmen.

"We’re going to have to try to welcome them to the Big Ten and play physical," forward Matt Sylvester said. "I don’t know that they’ve played a game where they’ve been boxed out every single possession. That’s what we’re going to have to do."

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