The Ohio State Buckeyes had a tough home win against Horizon
League Butler today at home in Value City Arena as Bulldog Gordon Hayward made
7-11 from behind the arc for a total of 25 points. Only a last minute free
through from big man Dallas Lauderdale with a hitch in his shot put Ohio State
up by three and safely in the lead.
By Steve Patterson
The Butler Bulldogs came to Ohio
State today undefeated with wins
against Ball State, Northwestern and Bradley. And
they almost had the upset of No. 21 ranked Ohio State
as they surged in the final 10 minutes from a 9 point deficit to tie it up at
51 with minutes remaining. But they couldn’t get ahead as the Buckeyes scored 3
more points and didn’t allow Butler
to make another shot. Evan Turner hit a midrange jump shot and Dallas
Lauderdale made one of two from the line in the final minute.
Ohio
State’s Defense
Ohio
State continued to show
incredible defensive play with full court pressure and pressure on long range
shooters well beyond the three point line. Butler freshman Heyward made his 25 points in
spite of the tight defense. It was a defensive battle as the final score would indicate
the kind of game that junior David Lighty loves. And he had one of his best
games of the season with 10 points and 8 rebounds.
Lighty seemed to be all over the floor on both ends of the
court. Applying pressure to shooters and rebounding miss shots each possession of
the game. Evan Turner was the other high scorer for Ohio State
with 14 points, 3 assists, and 4 rebounds. Although Turner struggled at times
with the defense of Butler
contesting every shot that he put up.
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