Michael Smith
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Recap: 2nd half surge leads Buckeyes over the Mercer Bears
Michael Smith via our good friends at Buckeye Battle Cry
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
It was the tale of 2 halves at Value City arena last night. The 2nd one being so much better for the Ohio State Buckeyes than the 1st. Ohio State used that 2nd half run to easily defeat the Mercer Bears, 64-44.
It didn’t look good in the 1st half however. Coming off an incredible upset victory over then #4 Kentucky, Ohio State came out very flat and it showed. Shooting just 38% from the floor in the 1st half and going 0-8 from 3 point land, it looked as if Mercer could upset Ohio State. Mercer led early on 20-13, then Ohio State closed the half on a 12-4 run to take a 25-24 halftime lead.
The last 2 points coming off a nice olly-oop dunk by Keita Bates-Diop.
Then in the 2nd half Ohio State took control opening with a 13-4 run that made a 25-24 halftime lead to 38-28. Ohio State never looked back in winning by 20 points.
JaQuan Lyle led Ohio State with tying a career high 18 points and Jae’Sean Tate also chipped in 13 points and had 7 steals in the game.
Head Coach Thad Matta said after the game. “I’ll have a better Christmas now.”
Ohio State freshman forward Mickey Mitchell made his debut with 1:57 left in the first half. He had not been allowed to play, but could practice, while the NCAA determined his eligibility. He was given approval on Friday.
He had three rebounds in eight minutes and missed his only shot.
“It felt good just playing again and being out there with my teammates,” he said.
Desmond Ringer had 18 points for Mercer, who made 17 of 49 field goals (34.7 percent).
“We just got smashed every sense of the imagination tonight,” Mercer coach Bob Hoffman said. “They’re length got us. I don’t know the last time we had 25 turnovers in a game. We got sped up a lot.”
Mercer was off to their best start in school history coming into the game at 9-2.
Ohio State moves to 7-5 on the season, they will host South Carolina on Sunday.
The post Recap: 2nd half surge leads Buckeyes over the Mercer Bears appeared first on The Buckeye Battle Cry: Ohio State News and Commentary.
Continue reading...
Michael Smith via our good friends at Buckeye Battle Cry
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
It was the tale of 2 halves at Value City arena last night. The 2nd one being so much better for the Ohio State Buckeyes than the 1st. Ohio State used that 2nd half run to easily defeat the Mercer Bears, 64-44.
It didn’t look good in the 1st half however. Coming off an incredible upset victory over then #4 Kentucky, Ohio State came out very flat and it showed. Shooting just 38% from the floor in the 1st half and going 0-8 from 3 point land, it looked as if Mercer could upset Ohio State. Mercer led early on 20-13, then Ohio State closed the half on a 12-4 run to take a 25-24 halftime lead.
The last 2 points coming off a nice olly-oop dunk by Keita Bates-Diop.
Then in the 2nd half Ohio State took control opening with a 13-4 run that made a 25-24 halftime lead to 38-28. Ohio State never looked back in winning by 20 points.
JaQuan Lyle led Ohio State with tying a career high 18 points and Jae’Sean Tate also chipped in 13 points and had 7 steals in the game.
Head Coach Thad Matta said after the game. “I’ll have a better Christmas now.”
Ohio State freshman forward Mickey Mitchell made his debut with 1:57 left in the first half. He had not been allowed to play, but could practice, while the NCAA determined his eligibility. He was given approval on Friday.
He had three rebounds in eight minutes and missed his only shot.
“It felt good just playing again and being out there with my teammates,” he said.
Desmond Ringer had 18 points for Mercer, who made 17 of 49 field goals (34.7 percent).
“We just got smashed every sense of the imagination tonight,” Mercer coach Bob Hoffman said. “They’re length got us. I don’t know the last time we had 25 turnovers in a game. We got sped up a lot.”
Mercer was off to their best start in school history coming into the game at 9-2.
Ohio State moves to 7-5 on the season, they will host South Carolina on Sunday.
The post Recap: 2nd half surge leads Buckeyes over the Mercer Bears appeared first on The Buckeye Battle Cry: Ohio State News and Commentary.
Continue reading...