Ohio State routs Grambling

Associated Press

COLUMBUS

Kam Williams scored 22 points as Ohio State coasted past Grambling on Tuesday night.

The Buckeyes (2-0) used a 14-0 run to open up a 31-11 lead a little more than 12 minutes into the first half and never looked back.

Forwards Marc Loving and Keita Bates-Diop and Williams, a guard, gave Ohio State a three-pronged scoring attack.

Williams posted 9-for-12 shooting from the floor. He made 3 of 5 3-pointers and added five rebounds. Loving and Bates-Diop added 14 points apiece.

The Buckeyes shot 58.8 percent from the floor, making 30 of 51 shots, while holding the visitors to 34.7 percent (17 for 49).

Grambling had four players score in double figures as Remond Brown and Nigel Ribeiro had 12 points apiece and Ervin Mitchell and Ulgur Hortum each scored 10.

Ohio State led 44-20 after a sometimes ragged first half that included a combined 25 fouls, including 15 on the visitors.

The Buckeyes shot 53.6 percent from the first half, including making 5 of 14 3-pointers, while putting the clamps on the Tigers, who shot 28.6 percent from the field and made only 1 of 6 3s.

Grambling (1-2) also committed 13 turnovers in the first half leading to 18 Ohio State points, and the Buckeyes turned their 8 offensive rebounds into 13 points.

Bates-Diop led three Buckeyes to score in the first half. He had a dozen points while Williams and Loving had 10 apiece.

The Buckeyes took control with a 14-0 run in the middle of the first half, extending a 17-11 lead to 31-21.

Bates-Diop started it with a jumper at the 12:11 mark and reserve point guard A.J. Harris had the last basket with a 3-pointer with 7:50 to go before the break.

TIP-INS

The Tigers were outscored 36-18 in the paint but had a 10-4 advantage in fast-break points. They were whistled for 23 fouls, including 15 in the first half.

Jaquan Lyle, replacing NBA first-round draft pick D’Angelo Russell at point guard for the Buckeyes, was not flashy but certainly got the job done setting up his teammates. The 6-foot-5 freshman dished out seven assists in 23 minutes.

UP NEXT

Grambling plays at Memphis on Thursday night.

Ohio State hosts UT-Arlington on Friday night.