OSU BASKETBALL Buckeyes winners over Hokies 62-57

The game was played at Nationwide Arena, home of the Blue Jackets.
COLUMBUS (AP) -- Maybe Ohio State needs to take a bus to hometown games more often.
In the Buckeyes' first game in Columbus but off campus in more than 47 years, J.J. Sullinger scored Ohio State's first 12 points and Tony Stockman contributed big plays in two surges in a 62-57 victory over Virginia Tech on Saturday.
"Our effort level was vastly improved," said Buckeyes coach Jim O'Brien, who said he was embarrassed by his team's lackluster effort and heart in Wednesday's 73-53 beating at the hands of No. 13 Georgia Tech. "We did a better job of playing with enthusiasm. It helped, particularly in the first half."
Dry run for tournament
The game was played at Nationwide Arena, home of the NHL Columbus Blue Jackets, as a dry run prior to the facility hosting first- and second-round games of the NCAA men's tournament on March 19 and 21, 2004.
Ohio State's floor was transported the three miles to the downtown arena, as were the baskets and shot clocks.
Both Sullinger, from Arkansas, and Stockman, out of Clemson, are transfers in their first season playing with the Buckeyes (3-3).
"We wanted J.J. to be assertive and we wanted him to show he's one of our best players," O'Brien said.
Sullinger finished with 22 points and 11 rebounds with Stockman adding 14 points and five assists.
"It started in the locker room," Sullinger said. "We had to get after it early and luckily my shots started to fall early."
Shut down Matthews
Virginia Tech (3-3) leading scorer Bryant Matthews, who came in averaging 27.4 points a game after back-to-back games of 36 and 37, was held to 15 by Ohio State's array of zone defenses.
He hit just 6 of 17 shots from the field.
"Ohio State did a good job on Matthews, stopping him off the dribble," Tech coach Seth Greenberg said. "I thought we had Ohio State on its heels. We had a chance, but we missed some free throws and we missed some key shots."
Zabian Dowdell led the Hokies -- who had beaten Ohio State in all four previous meetings -- with 18 points.
"A couple of shots didn't fall at the end or we could've tied the game," Dowdell said. "We should feel OK about our effort."