Buckeyes win big, but star Evan Turner injured

COLUMBUS (AP) — Evan Turner’s ugly fall overshadowed No. 15 Ohio State’s easy 111-60 win over Eastern Michigan on Saturday.

How bad was the Buckeyes star player’s awkward, back-first, 7-foot drop onto the hardwood? It was bad enough to make a crowd of 12,135 hold its collective breath.

“It got pretty quiet in the gym,” said Jon Diebler, who led the Buckeyes with 21 points. “It got really quiet.”

Hours later, Ohio State fans found out that it was as bad as it looked. Turner sustained broken bones in his back that will sideline him for the next eight weeks.

Initial tests at The Ohio State University Medical Center did not show any broken bones or substantial damage. But subsequent tests determined that Turner had a transverse process fracture on the second and third lumbar vertebra of his spine, athletic trainer Vince O’Brien said.

Turner, one of the nation’s top all-around players who came in averaging 20.6 points and 12.9 rebounds, was fouled on a dunk attempt, held onto the rim too long and landed on his back out of bounds with the Buckeyes (7-1) leading 15-5 and 13:27 left in the first half.

After the game, Ohio State coach Thad Matta said he was optimistic about Turner’s situation. But that was obviously before all the tests were completed.

“My primary concern right now is Evan’s long-term health and well-being,” Matta said in a statement released by the university hours after the game ended. “Evan was to this point in the season the best player in college basketball. We have been through tough situations before and our guys will regroup and prepare for the rest of our season starting with Butler next week in Indianapolis.”

P.J. Hill had a career-high 18 points, Jeremie Simmons 17 and William Buford and David Lighty each had 16 for the Buckeyes, who won their fifth in a row since a 76-73 loss to then-No. 6 North Carolina in the semifinals of the 2K Sports Classic on Nov. 19.