Men's Basketball
Buckeyes Reach Century Mark Against Ashland
By John Porentas

The Buckeyes got off to ragged start but heated up with a spark from Jamar Butler to defeat Ashland College 100-67 in OSU's final exhibition game of the season.

The Eagles trailed by just one at 25-24 with 5:46 remaining in the first half, but fueled by a stellar defensive effort by Butler, the Buckeyes closed out the half by scoring 28 points in the final 5:46 while holding Ashland to seven points to go into the intermission holding a 53-32 lead.

"It started with our defense," said OSU Head Coach Thad Matta.

"Jamar came in and knocked some balls away and loosened things up for us. Once we got flowing in transition there it seemed to open the game up for us."

"We just picked up our pressure. All it was really was us letting them do whatever they wanted to do. All we did was pick up our pressure and get into the passing lanes," said OSU guard Ron Lewis.

Lewis, who sat out last season after transferring to OSU from Bowling Green, led all scorers with 18 points, but the offensive story for the Buckeyes was not one of a single stellar performance, but one of impressive balance.

All ten Buckeyes on the roster played in the game, with no player playing less-than 12 minutes. Everyone scored, with the no player scoring less than eight points. Sylvester Mayes, Brayden Bell and Matt Terwilliger each scored eight, J. J. Sullinger, Matt Sylvester, Je'Kel Foster and Jamar Butler nine each, Ivan Harris 10, Terence Dials 12 and Lewis 18.

"A lot of teams have 15, 16 guys, but they only play about eight people people. With our team we have ten people and we play ten people," said senior guard/forward J. J. Sullinger.

"I think it's a luxury. From one through 10 everyone can play, everyone can contribute, and there really isn't too much of a fall off," Sullinger said.

"I think it's something we're going to have to do. We need everybody involved," added Matta.

"I think maybe they wore down a little bit there at the end of the first half," said Matta.

The combination of OSU's numbers and some quick hands by Butler was too much for the Eagles. After their half-ending blitz, they outscored the Eagles 47-36 in the second half and led by as many 39 points in the second half.

"This is the second time I've seen them this year, we were here last Sunday, and they're certainly a deep team. They're big, deep, and extremely well-coaches," agreed Ashland Head Coach Ron Lyons.

The Buckeyes shot just over 55% from the field in the game, including 60.6% in the second half. Ashland, meanwhile, had trouble putting the ball in the basket, particularly in the first half when they shot just 38.5% from the field. The Eagles were also hampered by foul trouble. Leading rebounder Justin Brown picked up four fouls in the first half and fouled out early in the second half. The Buckeyes attempted 16 free throws, making 14 of them, in the first half, while Ashland had just two attempts from the charity stripe, making one.

The Buckeyes racked up an impressive 20 assists, eight of them from Butler and five from Mayes, but were guilty of 17 turnovers. Matta was asked if the turnover number concerned him.

"It does. There was a little bit of sloppy play. It is a little bit frightening because we've done a pretty good job (at practice)," said Matta.

The Buckeyes will open their regular season next Sunday when they take on Chicago State at the Value City Arena.

Photo Gallery

Box Score

Game Notes:

* OSU Head Coach Thad Matta's starting lineup against the Eagles included Terence Dials, Je'kel Foster, J. J. Sullinger, Matt Sylvester, and Sylvester Mayes. Ron Lewis got the starting nod in the first exhibition game, but was replaced by Mayes against Ashland.

"I wasn't sure Ron was going to play today," said Matta of Lewis.

"He had jammed his toe on Friday morning's practice I think. I probably would have started Ron had he not been injured," Matta said.

* Both Ron Lewis and and Sylvester Mayes played in just their second games as Buckeyes in the exhibition. Both seemed more comfortable and at ease in this outing.

"I felt a little looser," said Lewis. "It's all just in playing games. The second game coming out you're always going to be a little looser than in the first game," said Lewis.

* The Buckeyes continue to tinker with the way they will utilize various players this season. J. J. Sullinger continues to see time at the power forward position after playing the small forward position last year and Ivan Harris is manning the small forward after playing at the power spot last year. Both players seem to like the change.

"I felt a lot more comfortable playing the three," said Harris.

Harris continues to work on being a more physical player that will take the ball to the rack.

"That's the main thing, to drive the ball to the basket and get fouls," said Harris.

Harris got to the line for three free throw attempts against Ashland and made two of those attempts.

"I only got to the line about eight times last year," said Harris.

Sullinger, meanwhile, had his second consecutive game with 10 rebounds. Matta thinks Sullinger could develop into an effective rebounder at the power forward.

"That's one of the things that I challenged him with is rebounding," said Matta.

"As you look at the tapes from last year there were signs of him being a really good rebounder, but it was part-time. We're trying to get him to be a full-time employee of the rebounding department of the Ohio State University basketball."

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