Buckeyes earn tough Big Ten road win over Penn State
COLUMBUS — Ohio State still can’t find a way to play a normal game.
The Buckeyes held a double-digit lead for most of the second half. They shot the ball well from 3-point range and didn’t turn it over.
Yet they found themselves in another tight, late-game situation.
Sure, Ohio State won’t complain about a gritty road win in conference play. In a league full of tough road trips, the Buckeyes now have one in their back pocket to open conference play.
But after the 76-64 victory over Penn State, the Buckeyes will be left to wonder if they’ll be able to sustain a big lead and pull away for a dominant win against quality competition at any point this season. Because all the games seem to be going down to the final minutes, win or lose.
But a win is a win for Chris Holtmann and Ohio State. And Lettermen Row is breaking down the latest Ohio State win with Three Points of how the Buckeyes went into a tough environment and were able to come back home with a victory.
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Buckeyes guard Jamari Wheeler shines in Penn State homecoming
Jamari Wheeler wasn’t sure the reception he would receive from the Penn State crowd. After playing at Penn State for four years, Wheeler made his return trip to State College as a Buckeyes guard — and he shined. Wheeler scored nine points, had five rebounds and nine assists, his best all-around game since transferring to Ohio State. He was comfortable in his guard role, turning the ball over just one time in the win. His Homecoming was met with a chorus of jeers from the Penn State crowd, but Wheeler made sure to get a win in the Bryce Jordan Center, something he’s certainly used to, just not from the visitor’s side of the floor.
Ohio State gets balanced scoring effort
Ohio State is powered by its star forward E.J. Liddell. But the Buckeyes are much more than their all-conference performer, and that was on full display Sunday night. Eight Buckeyes scored in the first half, and none of them had more than eight points. The bench outscored Penn State 29-5, especially after getting a 16-2 advantage in bench scoring in the first 20 minutes of the game. Ohio State can get bursts of scoring from stars like Liddell. But the balanced scoring effort shows the team’s depth and ability to score in every way.
Buckeyes now have one Big Ten road win in-hand early in December
It’s early December, and the Big Ten standings won’t mean anything for at least another month. But this early in the season, the Buckeyes can claim a Big Ten road win to their conference record. They certainly will take a road win in a tough venue to travel to and win in. Now, these Buckeyes will dive back into nonconference play for the next three weeks before getting back into league action. In the meantime, they have a road conference win under their belt, a valuable experience for the young players — and a building block for the entire roster.
