Ohio State senior forward Andre Wesson (24) goes up for a shot in the first half of the game against Stetson Nov. 19. Ohio State won 86-51. Credit: Cori Wade | Assistant Photo Editor
Andre Wesson entered Ohio State’s matchup with Morgan State shooting 26 percent in four games on the season.
The senior forward didn’t miss a shot Friday, nearly doubling his season points total with 19 against Morgan State (3-6), as No. 10 Ohio State (7-0) rolled to a 90-57 win.
“I needed a few shots to drop, especially since lately they haven’t been,” Andre Wesson said. “To have a game like this was special and just to have my teammates happy for me and fight with me meant a lot too.”
Andre Wesson couldn’t miss, shooting 4-for-4 from the field and 7-for-7 from the free-throw line.
“That’s our leader,” freshman guard D.J. Carton said. “We look up to this guy, and when he’s shooting the ball like that, when that shot’s going down, he becomes a different threat.”
All four of Andre Wesson’s makes from the field were 3s, and the rest of the Buckeyes shot just 5-for-25 from distance.
“It’s really important that we get some consistency shooting at the wing spot, 3-point shooting,” Holtmann said. “[Sophomore guard Duane Washington] by the numbers in practice is probably our most accurate shooter, but Andre has not been far behind.”
Senior guard Stanley Davis led Morgan State with 13 points and six rebounds on 6-of-12 shooting. No other player for the Bears finished in double figures.
Ohio State dominated the glass, outrebounding the Bears 43-31 while limiting Morgan State’s possessions and creating offensive opportunities.
Junior forward Kaleb Wesson gathered all eight of his rebounds in the first half, and the Buckeyes attacked the rim and drew fouls underneath. Efficiency at the charity stripe stretched the Ohio State lead as the Buckeyes shot 18-for-21 from the free-throw line.
The Buckeye defense swallowed the Bears. Ohio State forced contested looks at the rim and caused 14 turnovers, which led to fast break opportunities. Ohio State took advantage with 25 points off turnovers.
Shooting 27 percent from the 3-point line on the year, Morgan State failed to score from beyond the arc in the first half, and hit just two for the game.
However, Morgan State was outscored by only six in the second half, improving its scoring output by 21 in the latter period. Its 37.5 percent shooting night was the best of any Ohio State opponent thus far.
“We know we let down the standard, especially defensively in the second half,” Andre Wesson said. “They were shooting the ball better, and they were scoring. We just need to buckle down, and I think that’s something that we gotta continue to work on these next few days of practice, just giving a full 40 minutes of effort, cause we’re definitely gonna need that in our next game.”
The final score remained uncertain, but the contest’s outcome was decided in the first half. Heading to the locker room at halftime, the Buckeyes held a commanding 27-point lead.
They never looked back.
Ohio State will travel to Chapel Hill, North Carolina, to face the No. 6 Tar Heels Wednesday at 9:30 p.m.
