Monday, November 24, 2014
Associated Press
COLUMBUS
After the game, Shannon Scott handed out cookies. During it, he dished out assists.
D’Angelo Russell scored 32 points and Scott set a school record with 16 assists to lead 20th-ranked Ohio State to a 106-48 win against overmatched Sacred Heart on Sunday night.
“That was a heck of a performance by our starting backcourt tonight,” coach Thad Matta said.
Russell’s total tied the second most for a freshman at Ohio State, trailing only Jared Sullinger’s 40 points (along with 13 rebounds) against IUPUI in 2010.
Scott had 11 points to go with his assist total, which broke Aaron Craft’s team mark, while Jae’Sean Tate and Sam Thompson each had 12 points, Keita Bates-Diop 11 and Marc Loving 10. The Buckeyes (3-0) shot 57 percent from the field. Trey McDonald chipped in with 14 rebounds.
“They remind me of some of the UConn teams that led the country in blocked shots three or four years [ago],” Sacred Heart coach Anthony Latina said. “Because they’re long at every position. They’re not just big. I know Kentucky’s front line is bigger than half the NBA teams but these guys may be one of the few programs in the country that can match Kentucky’s length.”
Scott, a senior who in his first three years was often cast in the shadow of backcourt-mate Aaron Craft, has 41 assists so far.
“It doesn’t mean a lot,” he said of the assist record. “It’s good to say you have it. But I can’t really [hang] my hat on that. We want to win a lot more games.”
It’s early but Russell, an acclaimed first-year player out of Louisville, Kentucky, is averaging 18 a game.
“I honestly didn’t know who the opponent was,” he said. “I just prepared the best way I could and told myself whoever was guarding me I was going to destroy.”
The Buckeyes led early and never looked back. Russell had 17 points at the break and then hit three consecutive 3-pointers in the opening minutes of the second half.
Ohio State held out center Amir Williams because of a sore knee. Former Temple player Anthony Lee started in his spot.
Filip Nowicki had 10 points and nine rebounds for the Pioneers (1-2), who had lost to UMass-Lowell 57-54 — a team Ohio State pounded 92-55.
“This is [an Ohio State] team that can get deep into the NCAA tournament,” Latina said. “Fortunately for Sacred Heart we don’t have to be better than Ohio State to have a good year. Because if that was our goal, it would be a long year.”
Craft had 15 assists — the official Ohio State record dating to 1986 — in the third round of the NCAA tournament in 2010 against George Mason.