Chris Holtmann updates health of Zed Key following Penn State win

The Ohio State Buckeyes notched a huge win over Penn State but concern immediately turned to the health of forward Zed Key after the game. v

“In the midst of the game, you’re trying not to feel sorry for yourself. I went to check on him,” Holtmann said. “We need guys to stay ready and I give credit to Joey (Brunk). I’d like not to lose another player to injury.”

Key suffered a lower leg injury in the first half and had to leave for the locker room. He eventually resurfaced and finished the game with 10 points in 21 minutes played with two blocks and four boards. On the season, Key is averaging 9.4 points per game with 5.7 rebounds.

With Ohio State’s victory over the Nittany Lions, the Buckeyes improve to 11-4 on the season as they looked to bounce back from their 78-68 loss to Wisconsin last Thursday.

E.J. Liddell led Ohio State in scoring with 19 points on 6-11 shooting to go with eight rebounds. Malaki Branham and Jamari Wheeler combined for 17 points.

They picked up the victory despite shooting just 38.6 from the floor overall and failing to score at all throughout the final five minutes of regulation. The key to their victory, however, was Ohio State’s 24 made free throws compared to Penn State’s eight.

The Buckeyes are back in action Tuesday night to face IUPUI (1-14) at 7 p.m. ET on the Big10 Network before throwing themselves back into conference action, but this time with an additional player on scholarship.

WATCH: Chris Holtmann puts walk-on on scholarship

Following No. 16 Ohio State’s conference 61-56 victory over rival Penn State Sunday afternoon, the good news kept rolling. Buckeyes head coach Chris Holtmann awarded walk-on Harrison Hookfin with a scholarship.

Earned it.

Congratulations on being officially put on scholarship @harrisonhookfin ‼️#Team123 #GoBucks pic.twitter.com/kxLtBCp3Cq

— Ohio State Hoops (@OhioStateHoops) January 16, 2022

“One of the things that we’ve been excited about going for a good bit right now is we love to be able to award and honor those guys that have played an important role in our program and you guys know, everybody’s treated the same,” Holtmann said after the victory.

Hookfin thanked his teammates and the coaching staff afterward and led the team while they chanted the fight song in the locker room.

The 6-foot-6, 195 lb senior forward has only seen action in two games this season against Bowling Green and Wisconsin, respectively. While he has yet to score a basket this season, he has come up with one rebound in his four total minutes on the court.

His stat sheet doesn’t even begin to tell how much he means to his team, who competes just as hard as the Buckeye’s starting lineup every day during practice and warm-ups.

We coach our best player, as hard as we coach the guy that just got here, right?” Holtmann asked his team. “Everybody has the same responsibility. You’ve got to bring your best every day, whether you’re on scholarship or you’re not.”

On3’s Barkley Truax contributed to this report.