COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) - Evan Turner scored 13 points in his first collegiate start to lead Ohio State past Coppin State 47-39 on Monday night.
Jamar Butler added 13 points for the Buckeyes (5-3), who had lost their last two games and three of the last four, all against ranked opponents. They were outrebounded 32-22 by the smaller Eagles.
Turner started in place of another freshman, Jon Diebler, who had started the first seven games for the Buckeyes. Diebler, Ohio's all-time leading high school scorer, was shooting just 21 percent from the field and 17 percent on 3-pointers.
Tywain McKee had 19 points and Eddie Hayden 10 for a Coppin State team (3-7), which had lost its last four games by an average of 22 points.
Most of the game was played at a glacial pace, with neither team getting many good looks on offense.
There were eight lead changes and two ties until Ohio State took a 36-33 lead on Turner's baseline drive with 7:25 left. After Coppin State countered on Hayden's 12-foot jumper, backup post man Matt Terwilliger hit a 3-pointer from the top of the key.
Ahead 39-37, the Buckeyes forged their biggest lead of the game when Othello Hunter scored inside and Turner hit a 3-pointer from the left corner off an assist from Butler to push the lead to 44-37.
Coppin State shot just 36 percent from the field and had 18 turnovers. The Buckeyes hit 44 percent of their shots from the field, including 8-of-22 3-pointers.
Ohio State led 25-22 at the half, but was never able to get rid of the pesky Eagles. The Buckeyes broke out to an 8-0 lead with Turner hitting two 3s and assisting on the other basket.
### www.OhioStateBuckeyes.com ###
Courtesy:
Associated Press
