Men's Basketball
OSU Defensive Effort Helps Buckeyes Keep Bulldogs at Bay
By John PorentasNo. 21 Ohio State (6-0) got a stout defensive effort and just enough offense to hand Butler (8-1) its first loss of the season by a final of 54-51 at Value City Arena in Columbus.
The Buckeyes put together strong scoring runs at the start of each half when they were able to get the ball down low to Dallas Lauderdale and B. J. Mullens. Lauderdale and Mullens were able to capitalize on their size advantage and score down low to help OSU build leads. When the Buckeyes went away from the inside game however, the Bulldogs were able to close the gap, largely behind the shooting of freshman guard Gordon Heyward who scored 25 points on 7 of 11 shooting from three point range.
The Buckeye led by eight early at 13-5 n the first half but Butler rallied back to tie the game at 17 each.
A late spurt put the Buckeyes up by six at the half. Ohio State got just six points off their bench in the entire game, all of them from Mullens in the late spurt to establish the halftime lead.
OSU opened the second half with another scoring outburst that extended the lead to 13 at 43-30, but the Bulldogs were able to slowly chip away a the lead the remainder of the half. The Buckeyes simply could not find scoring from the field.
"We had some good shots that went in and out," said junior guard Evan Turner.
"Jeremie Simmons had a couple of three pointers went in and out that we thought we were on the mark.
"Down low we shot some shots that just didn't go it. I had a few shots that went in and out, Dallas did as well. It was just one of those nights where it was rough putting the ball in the basket. We were fortunate for our defense to pick it up for us."
Butler finally tied it with 3:58 remaining on a three pointer by Hayward, but that was the last time they would score. Evan Turner put the Buckeyes back up by two with a jumper at 3:07 and Dallas Lauderdale added a free throw at 1:02 to make the score 54-51. Hayward's three point attempt as time expired wouldn't go to allow the Buckeye to claim the win.
The Buckeyes were not particularly sharp offensively but were extremely effective defensively. Butler committed 19 turnovers and was held to just 31.9 percent shooting from the field. Starting center Dallas Lauderdale continued his impressive shot blocking registering four blocks in 26 minutes. Mullens added two blocks in 16 minutes of playing time while guard Anthony Crater added one as well.
The Bulldogs stayed in the game because of OSU's mediocre showing on offense and by making their free throws while the Buckeyes were not. Butler made 13-15 attempts from the line while OSU made just 16 of 28. The missed free throw attempts by OSU equated to empty possessions that allowed Butler to stay close.
"It became a free throw shooting contest and they were making theirs and we weren't," said OSU Head Coach Thad Matta.
"It was funny because free throw shooting has won us the last two games, and for whatever reason we weren't very good. You get a 13-0 point lead and free throws have got to be the point where you're going to extend it," Matta said.
Despite the poor shooting, the Buckeyes were able to hold off Butler thanks to their defensive effort.
"When our free throws weren't going in none of us flinched," said Lauderdale.
"We have total confidence in our defense and we knew we had to get a stop. We just had to dig in deep late in the game. We had to dig deep, we were all tired, but we had to get the stop if we wanted to win, so I think our defense came in strong today."
"That zone is obviously effective," said Butler Head Coach Brad Stevens. "It's not coincidence that teams are shooting what they're shooting against them.
"If we don't turn it over 19 times we probably have a better chance, but that's a credit to them. They do a great job. They do a great job of guarding. They're so long and athletic, and they have interchangeable parts really. It's tough when you're playing against them. They forced us into that (19 turnovers) tonight."
Game Notes:
* High Five: OSU center Dallas Lauderdale fired up the crowd late in the game with a blocked shot near the sideline. The block fired up Lauderdale and fans near by when Lauderdale exchanged high fives with one of them sitting courtside after he made the swat.
"A fan just held his hand up and the first instinct is to give him a high-five, so that's what I did," said Lauderdale.
* Down to the Wire: The Bulldogs didn't score over the last 3:58, but came close when it counted most, the last three point attempt of the game. Hayward's shot was off the mark was contested by David Lighty, but wasn't far off the mark.
"He got a good look, and it could have been a foul, but we'll take it," said Evan Turner.
* Toodles: Evan Turner and Dallas Lauderdale spoke with the media after the game, something both have done several times this season and a role in which both are becoming more and comfortable. Following the interview after the Butler game Turner got a chuckle out of reporters as he left the podium. When he stood to leave he looked out at the cameras and writers and simply said "Toodles". The remark was so spontaneous and so unexpected that reporters immediately speculated that a new nickname may have been born.
"Toodles" Turner? We'll see.
* No Bench: Ohio State got just six points from their bench, all of them from Mullens. Butler got just one point from their bench.
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