COLUMBUS OSU gets fifth win against Spartans

The Buckeyes made 14 three-point goals in the 92-59 rout of Norfolk State.
COLUMBUS (AP) -- Ohio State players aren't cleared to shoot as many 3-pointers as they would like. Sometimes it just looks that way.
J.J. Sullinger scored 15 points to lead six players in double figures, and Ohio State used runs before and after halftime to pull away for a 92-59 win over Norfolk State on Monday night.
Ohio State scored 55 points in the second half, partly due to a 10-of-20 performance from 3-point range. Ohio State finished 14-of-32 behind the arc, while Norfolk State was 4-of-12.
The 3-point barrage came one game after Ohio State made 11 3s in an 81-74 win at Saint Joseph's on Saturday.
Buckeyes coach Thad Matta said his players can shoot a 3 when it's the best shot available.
"I don't think I'd call it a green light. We talk about good shot selections and when to shoot them, but I thought that was the shot they were giving us," he said.
Dials has 13 points
Boardman High graduate Terence Dials had 13 points and led the Buckeyes (5-0) with eight rebounds. Ron Lewis added 12 points, Je'Kel Foster had 11 and Jamar Butler and Ivan Harris each scored 10.
Calvin Brown led the Spartans (2-5) with 16 points and Tony Murphy had 12. Norfolk State didn't have anyone else score in double figures and shot just 39 percent from the floor.
"I think we got to a point where we were making one pass and a shot, as opposed to moving the ball and making them play defense," Norfolk State coach Dwight Freeman said.
Ohio State improved to 10-0 against teams from the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference and began a season with five wins for the first time since going 6-0 to start 2001-02.
All of Norfolk State's losses this season have come against nonconference opponents.
The first matchup between the schools was closer than expected for the first 15 minutes, with the Spartans trailing only 23-20.
Breaks game open
The Buckeyes closed the first half with a 14-2 surge and opened the second half on a 16-8 spurt to take a 53-30 lead with 15:39 remaining. Sullinger had five points in each run.
"We stringed some stops together, got some good plays and went from there," Foster said.
Norfolk State got no closer than 17 points after Ohio State's second-half run and trailed by as many as 36 because of the Buckeyes' 3-point shooting.
"We need to get the ball to Terence. He is shooting really well," Sullinger said about the Buckeyes' shot selection. "However, all the 3-point shots we did take were good shots and come off penetration."
In addition to its 3-point advantage, the Buckeyes also had a large edge at the foul line, making 24-of-30 while the Spartans went 9-of-16.
The balanced scoring attack was nothing new for the Buckeyes. Foster, Lewis, Dials, Butler and Sullinger all average double figures.
Sharing the basketball pleases Matta, who believes players build confidence in their offense the more they score.
"Hopefully that's something we can continue to grow on," he said.