Ohio State head coach Thad Matta said Thursday he was anxious to see how his young team fared in its first true road game of the season.
He certainly won't be happy with the result.
| 1 | 2 | F | |
|---|---|---|---|
| OHIO STATE | 24 | 31 | 55 |
| UCONN | 45 | 30 | 75 |
The Buckeyes were routed by UConn on Saturday, falling 75-55, in front of an energized crowd at Gampel Pavilion.
The Huskies put five guys in double figures, led by Omar Calhoun's 14 points. Rodney Purvis (13), Shonn Miller (11), Amida Brimah (11) and Jalen Adams (11) also finished in double-figures. UConn also shot 60 percent from the field for the game.
| OHIO STATE | STAT | UConn |
|---|---|---|
| 55 | POINTS | 75 |
| 20-56 (36) | FGM-FGA (PCT.) | 32-53 (60) |
| 5-22 (23) | 3PM-3PA (PCT.) | 6-14 (43) |
| 10-12 (83) | FTM-FTA (PCT.) | 5-9 (56) |
| 13 | TURNOVERS | 16 |
| 26 | TOTAL REBOUNDS | 34 |
| 9 | OFFENSIVE REBOUNDS | 5 |
| 17 | DEFENSIVE REBOUNDS | 29 |
| 18 | BENCH POINTS | -- |
| 2 | BLOCKS | 0 |
| 9 | STEALS | 4 |
| 11 | ASSISTS | 17 |
Ohio State cut a 21-point halftime deficit down to 12 early in the second half, but the Huskies responded with a run that saw them make 10-straight second-half field goals. The Buckeyes shot just 36 percent from the field in the game and made just 5 of 22 3-point shots.
Jae'Sean Tate had 15 points to lead Ohio State, while Marc Loving added 14.
After the Buckeyes hung with the Huskies for the opening 10 minutes, UConn poured it on late in the first half. The Huskies used a 12-2 run to stretch a 20-16 lead to 32-18, then wound up leading 45-24 at halftime after Ohio State went through a stretch where it made just one field goal in 8 minutes, 35 seconds.
Ohio State's shot selection in the opening 20 minutes left a lot to be desired and the Buckeyes weren't getting things done on the defensive end of the floor, either. UConn was able to score at will.
The Huskies shot a blistering 63 percent from the field in the first half and were 5 for 8 from behind the 3-point line. UConn also got into the paint at will, scoring 24 points inside compared to Ohio State's 10. The Buckeyes seemingly couldn't throw it in the ocean as they settled for several contested jump shots. Ohio State shot just 31 percent from the field in the first half.
The Buckeyes will next be in action Wednesday when they host Northern Illinois.
