Michigan
Ohio State
Redd and Reese Power Buckeyes Past Wolverines
2/6/2000 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
LaVell Blanchard (Ann Arbor, Mich./Pioneer HS) led the Michigan attack with 21 points and a game-high nine rebounds. It marked the third consecutive game -- and 10th time this season -- that Blanchard has paced the Wolverines' offense and the 13th time this season he has finished as the team's high rebounder.
Ohio State outplayed Michigan in all aspects of the game, shooting 53 percent from the field while holding the Wolverines to 37-percent shooting. OSU, spearheaded by Scoonie Penn's five assists, dished out 17 helpers while turning the ball over a mere eight times. Penn also recorded 13 points and a team-best six rebounds. The only area Michigan enjoyed an advantage was on the glass, where the Wolverines outboarded the Buckeyes 44-33.
Redd, who netted 12 points in the first 10:00 of the game and 20 in the opening half, paced Ohio State to a pair of extended runs, a 9-2 spurt early on to give the Buckeyes an 11-6 lead and then, after Michigan tied the game 14-14, a 9-0 run to give OSU a 23-14 advantage. Michigan went to a big lineup and settled in, steadying the margin at seven points until 8:00 remained in the half when Josh Asselin (Caro, Mich./Caro HS), who finished the game with 15 points and seven rebounds, picked up his second foul and the Wolverines went back to their normal lineup.
Reese capitalized on the matchup change and promptly caught fire, scoring eight of his 14 first-half points -- on 5-of-7 shooting from the field -- as Ohio State expanded the lead to 15 points by the halftime break, 47-32. The Wolverines were their own worst enemy during the first half, turning the ball over 12 times and allowing Ohio State to get out on the fast break and convert easy layups. OSU only turned the ball over three times in the half.
The Buckeyes then opened the second half with a quick 17-4 run to put the game away, 67-39. The margin stayed over 20 points until 4:00 remained in the game when Kevin Gaines (Las Vegas, Nev./Clark HS), who ended the game with six points and six assists, converted a traditional three-point play with a layup and free throw to cut the OSU lead to 83-64.
Michigan returns to action Wednesday (Feb. 9) when it travels to Illinois for a 7 p.m. CST tip-off against the Fighting Illini. The Wolverines defeated the Illini 95-91 in overtime in Ann Arbor back on Jan. 16.
Contact: Tom Wywrot (734) 763-4423
