For the first time since the Maui Invitational in November, the Ohio State men’s basketball team won two consecutive games. The home victories brought OSU’s win-loss ratio to over .500 for the first time this season as it now stands 4-3.
It all started at Nationwide Arena on Dec. 6 when guard J.J. Sullinger led the Buckeyes with 20 points in the 62-57 victory over Virginia Tech. The OSU men continued their winning ways Saturday at the Schottenstein Center when they handled Samford in an 80-62 beating.
Against Samford OSU was able to spread the ball around on offense. Five Buckeyes scored in the double digits with center Velimir Radinovic pacing the team with 19 points. After coming off the bench, guard Tony Stockman trailed Radinovic with 16 points. Stockman began the season as a starter for the Buckeyes but was forced to sit and watch as Ricardo Billings took his place.
“This is a learning experience for me. I have some habits that I need to work on,” Stockman said. “I need to play hard and just not be casual with the ball. Also I have to work on not getting beat defensively, but it is encouraging to play 20 minutes and not turn the ball over.”
Turnovers played a large role in OSU’s win as it bounced back from being behind 18-12 early on. The Buckeyes went on a 16-0 run, capitalizing on Samford’s turnovers to move ahead 42-32 at the half.
Coming back from the break, Samford was able to bring the score back within three, but would come no closer as the Buckeyes broke out on another run, this time an 11-0 run. Guards Sullinger and Brandon Fuss-Cheatham helped the OSU attack on both ends of the ball. Sullinger recorded 13 points, seven defensive rebounds and two steals, while Fuss-Cheatham had his highest scoring game so far this season with 11 points, two rebounds and three steals.
“I just made the open shots and made the shots in transition,” Fuss-Cheatham said. “I definitely felt more confident today. I think I wasn’t jumping as much and that helped.”
