Instacap: Ohio State Routs Jackson State, 78-47

Ohio State wanted no part of the recent Big Ten struggles over the last few days.

Playing without junior starting forward Keita Bates-Diop for the second-straight game, the Buckeyes cruised past Jackson State on Wednesday night, 78-47.

Ohio State (5-0) was led by senior forward Marc Loving, who scored a team-high 19 points. Kam Williams chipped in 15 in his second-straight start and JaQuan Lyle recorded a double-double with 10 points and 11 assists for the Buckeyes.

"It's always good to see the ball go in and get a little rhythm going," Loving said afterward. "It's always good to see some baskets go in finally."

A slight cold spell at the start of the second half dropped Ohio State's field goal percentage as the Buckeyes began the second frame making just 2 of their first 12 shots. For the game, however, Ohio State finished at 55 percent from the floor and made 13-for-27 attempts from behind the 3-point line.

The Buckeyes held their opponent to just 30 percent shooting from the field as the Tigers simply couldn't buy a bucket all evening. Jackson State also committed 20 turnovers in the game.

After a 9-0 run gave Jackson State a five-point lead early in the first half, this one was all Ohio State. The Buckeyes went on a 14-0 run of their own — sparked by two 3-pointers from Williams and one each from JaQuan Lyle and Andre Wesson — to quickly erase that mark and it was pretty much over from there.

Ohio State led 40-23 at halftime.

Williams scored 12 first-half points and was a perfect 5-for-5 shooting from the field. Marc Loving scored eight while Trevor Thompson and Jae'Sean Tate each added six first-half points. Lyle ran the show comfortably with eight first-half assists as Ohio State recorded 11 assists on 15 made field goals in the first half.

A 15-0 run by the Buckeyes stretched a 23-20 lead out to 18 and Ohio State's largest lead of the first half was 19 at 40-21. Loving scored six points during that spurt and Lyle hit Thompson for back-to-back alley-oops. 

Overall, the Buckeyes shot 15-for-23 (65.2 percent) from the field in the first half and were 4-for-7 from behind the 3-point line. After a hot start, Jackson State finished the opening 20 minutes just 9-for-29 (31 percent) from the field and 4-for-11 from downtown.

"I thought we were pretty active defensively again tonight," Ohio State head coach Thad Matta said. "They're a team that likes to penetrate as much as they can and I thought we did a great job of slowing the penetration down."

Up next for Ohio State is Marshall. The Buckeyes host the Thundering Herd on Friday at 7 p.m.