Field Level Media
Nov 22, 2019
Kaleb Wesson had 15 points and seven rebounds, and D.J. Carton added 13 points as No. 10 Ohio State defeated Purdue Fort Wayne 85-46 on Friday in Columbus, Ohio.
Wesson, a 6-foot-9 junior forward, set a career high for 3-point attempts (seven) and matched his career best of 3-point makes (three).
C.J. Walker had 11 points for the Buckeyes (5-0), who outscored the Mastodons 43-21 in the second half.
Marcus DeBerry scored 16 points, hitting 6 of 7 from the floor and 3 of 4 from 3-point range, to lead the Mastodons (2-5). Brian Patrick contributed 13 points.
The Buckeyes extended a 42-25 halftime lead to 56-29 within the opening four minutes of the second half. At that point, the question was whether Ohio State would limit the Mastodons to 20 or fewer field goals made, as was the case for its first four opponents.
The Buckeyes reached that goal, as the Mastodons wound up 17 of 54 (31.5 percent).
The Mastodons, who lost 107-61 in Columbus last season in their only prior meeting, were competitive longer than the Buckeyes' previous two opponents -- barely.
Ohio State had a 19-3 lead on then-No. 10 Villanova during a 76-51 win on Nov. 13 and had a 20-0 run in an 86-51 rout of Stetson on Monday.
Purdue Fort Wayne trailed only 9-7 until Ohio State's stifling defense and clinical offense got going. The Buckeyes ran off 16 straight points for a 25-7 lead on a 3-pointer by Duane Washington Jr. with 9:25 left in the half.
The Mastodons finally broke the drought on a Cameron Benford layup followed by a trey from Patrick to make it 25-12.
Ohio State gradually pulled away for the 17-point halftime lead despite 12 points by DeBerry, who was averaging 7.5 points.
The Mastodons missed 13 of their first 15 shots but warmed up to 9 of 31 (29 percent) by halftime. Purdue Fort Wayne finished 17 of 54 (31.5 percent) from the floor.
Ohio State hosts Kent State on Monday while the Mastodons are home Sunday against Division III school Ohio Northern.
--Field Level Media