Ohio State opens regular season Nov. 20 against Delaware State 

COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Ohio State men’s basketball team opened its 2008-09 season with a 90-63 exhibition win over Walsh Thursday night at Value City Arena in front of 12,426 fans. Evan Turner and William Buford scored a game-high 17 points apiece to lead five players in double-digit scoring.

Newcomers Jeremie Simmons, a JC transfer, and B.J. Mullens, a true freshman from Columbus, started the contest, along with veterans Turner, David Lighty and Jon Diebler. The starters combined for 58 percent of the team’s total scoring to propel the Buckeyes to 56 percent shooting on the night.

Turner opened scoring with a layup 36 seconds into the contest and paced the Buckeyes the rest of the way. He had 13 points and eight boards in the half, helping Ohio State to 58 shooting percentage for the period. The sophomore from Chicago finished the night with 14 points from the field and a game-high nine rebounds.

All four freshmen to see action in the game scored at least two points, led by Mullens’ 12. The rookie center was 3-for-9 from the field and hit 6-of-8 foul shots.

The Buckeyes traded baskets with Walsh for the first three minutes of action, but broke the 6-6 tie at 16:00 with a layup from Lighty and went on to lead by as much as 14, at 32-18, with 6:39 to play before the break. The Cavaliers cut the margin to single-digits at the 1:50 mark, but Turner hit his fourth and fifth shots from the field to send Ohio State into halftime with the 45-32 lead.

Buford hit the court running in the second half, entering the game at 17:13 and knocking down a dunk eight seconds later with his first of 15 points in the second period. The Buckeyes then went on a 10-0 run over the next four-plus minutes to spread the lead to 67-38 with 11:19 to play. Five different players scored in the next eight minutes until Ohio State’s final field goal at 3:26.

Walsh was led by Joe Shardo with 14 points and Kyelce Cescato with 12 points and six rebounds.

The Buckeyes open the regular season 6:30 p.m. on Nov. 20 against Delaware State. The game will be played in St. John Arena due to the Reba McIntyre and Kelly Clarkson concert scheduled for the Value City Arena.