In a game that more or less means nothing, Ohio State dismantled the Bahamas All-Stars, 88-66, at Sir Kendal Isaacs Gym in Nassau.
It was, however, a premature glimpse at a new-look Buckeye basketball team that'll have to replace leading scorer LaQuinton Ross and program stalwarts in Lenzelle Smith Jr. and Aaron Craft.
Freshman forward and former five-star recruit Keita Bates-Diop led the way with 16 points. Senior forward Sam Thompson had 11 and redshirt freshman guard Kam Williams and senior center Trey McDonald had 10 apiece. The Buckeyes shot 52 percent from the field. Here's a full box score from the live stats feed:
Box score from Ohio State's 88-66 win against the Bahamas All-Stars tonight: pic.twitter.com/FXo48jPsbd
— Patrick Maks (@maksimuspatrick) August 8, 2014
Ohio State jumped out to a 9-0 lead and never looked back. With only a live stats feed available to media and the masses back home, it's hard to evaluate who played well and who didn't. Fear not, though, the game's biggest takeaways were documented by Ohio State team spokesman Dan Wallenberg.
Here's what the Buckeyes wore:
Team @OhioStateHoops uniforms for competition in the Bahamaa pic.twitter.com/vUGm532y8E
— Dan Wallenberg (@OSUADAthComm) August 7, 2014
And here's a makeshift group of scrubby backups:
Just in case reinforcements are needed. pic.twitter.com/8Wpd2b1P8z
— Dan Wallenberg (@OSUADAthComm) August 7, 2014
Internet and lighting were scarce:
Lighting issue could be why we moved game to 7 p.m. Lights are coming back on now.
— Dan Wallenberg (@OSUADAthComm) August 7, 2014
Internet is suspect at best but one way or another updates will be attempted.
— Dan Wallenberg (@OSUADAthComm) August 7, 2014
Thompson saved the dunks for later:
Russell rebounds, outlets to Sam Thompson for the layup. He's saving breakaway dunks for the regular season. 48-25
— Dan Wallenberg (@OSUADAthComm) August 7, 2014
Kam Williams, who could be a big-time scorer for Ohio State this year, can stroke it:
Kam Williams with an NBA 3, 16-5 Buckeyes. We have 4 3-point lines. Little confusing.
— Dan Wallenberg (@OSUADAthComm) August 7, 2014
Marc Loving can run the court:
Loving goes coast to coast for the layup, 43-20
— Dan Wallenberg (@OSUADAthComm) August 7, 2014
Ohio State's been experimenting with zone defense this summer:
Buckeyes in zone after K Williams 3...66-45
— Dan Wallenberg (@OSUADAthComm) August 8, 2014
Freshman center David Bell, who's considered a talented, but raw, player, apparently had a nice outing:
Diop replaces Bell. Bell active and quick around the basket on defense. He's pinned a couple shots for blocks so far.
— Dan Wallenberg (@OSUADAthComm) August 7, 2014
With months before the regular season starts, the Buckeyes are spending five days in the Bahamas as part of a series of exhibition games called the "Summer of Thunder."
They will play the Providence Storm Friday. Tip is set for 7 p.m.
