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Buckeyes find their rhythm to overwhelm VMI, 107-69

Freshman Daequan Cook leads Ohio State with 22 points.


By Mark Gokavi
Staff Writer

Saturday, November 11, 2006


COLUMBUS ? The Buckeyes gave the crowd a win, set a points record in their place and put on quite a show.
Coach Thad Matta's No. 7-ranked Ohio State's men's basketball team opened its season with a 107-69 victory over VMI in front of an announced crowd of 13,219 the Schottenstein Center. OSU plays Loyola at 8 tonight in the second round of the Black Coaches Association Classic.
"They're as advertised, I thought," Virginia Military Institute coach Duggar Baucom said. "Thad has got a stable full of horses here."
The Buckeyes were unsteady early, but new colts like Dunbar graduate Daequan Cook and "old" horses like junior Jamar Butler pulled away down the stretch. One second-half spurt took the lead from 56-49 to 77-61. After that, OSU put the hammer down with a 19-0 run.
"Defensively, second half, our guys locked down and did a much better job," Matta said. "We were able to go from 43 (first-half points) to 26 points. That was probably the biggest difference right there."
Without 7-foot freshman Greg Oden, the undersized Buckeyes were outrebounded in the first half. That turned into a 52-42 game advantage. Of course, there were plenty of rebounds available since VMI was 11 of 47 from 3-point land ? a record number of tries for an OSU foe.
OSU shot 13 of 34 from the arc for a huge total of 81 threes attempted. The Buckeyes shot 59 percent overall but that included 30 of 39 from two-point land. Ohio State's 107 points is an arena record.
Cook got his share, leading OSU with 22 points on 9-of-14 shooting. He also had 9 rebounds but added five turnovers.
"Me and coach Matta had a conversation about how I was rushing a lot of my shots, drawing a lot of charges," said Cook, whose 22 points were the best for an OSU true freshman debut (Michael Redd had 21 in 1997). "What he talked to me about today was just let my game come to me."
Butler scored 18, Ivan Harris 17, Ron Lewis 15 and David Lighty 11. Point guard Mike Conley had 8 points and 10 assists against two turnovers while Othello Hunter scored 8 and had a team-high 13 rebounds.
Reggie Williams and Fred Robinson led VMI with 16 points apiece.
Key play: Butler's 3-pointer started the 19-0 run.
Key player: Cook, who also added two 2 assists, 2 steals and a block.
Key stats: OSU shot 64.7 percent in the second half. OSU outscored VMI 50-6 in fast-break points. The teams combined for 81 three-point attempts and 50 turnovers.
The starters were Butler, Lewis, Lighty, Conley and Hunter. Cook entered the game with 16:02 left before halftime.


Contact this reporter (937) 225-6951 or mgokavi@daytondailynews.com.




Other BCA Classic games Friday

IUPUI 86, Alabama A&M 47: George Hill scored 20 and Austin Montgomery added 15 as IUPUI led in points off turnovers 35-8.
Kent State 105, South Dakota State 50: Six Flashes hit double digits as Kent State shot 63 percent and outscored South Dakota State 56-14 in the lane.
Loyola 68, Princeton 57: Leon Young and J.R. Blount each scored 12 as the Ramblers shot 58 percent and won the rebounding battle 33-14.

Today's games
Noon ? Alabama A&M (0-1) vs. South Dakota State (0-1)
2 p.m. ? Princeton (0-1) vs. VMI (0-1)
6 p.m. ? Kent State (1-0) vs. IUPUI (1-0)
8 p.m. ? Ohio State (1-0) vs. Loyola (1-0)