Basketball Recap: #3 Ohio State 73, Wright State 42

Sullinger back to work

Preseason All-American Jared Sullinger scored 19 points to go with nine rebounds in leading No. 3 Ohio State to a 73-42 win over Wright State on Friday night in the Global Sports Shootout. William Buford added 13 points for the Buckeyes. Point guard Aaron Craft had 10 points and just one turnover in 28 minutes in the opener for both teams.

A.J. Pacher had 13 points and Reggie Arcenaux 11 for Wright State, which was 19-14 a year ago, but doesn't have a player on the roster with more than a year of experience with the Raiders. It seemed as if OSU was bigger, and quicker, as they went 26 of 38 at the free-throw line compared to Wright State's 10 of 15.

The Buckeyes must replace three starters from last year's Big Ten regular-season and tournament champion (34-3) that won its first 24 games and was ranked No. 1 before losing 62-60 in the NCAA regional semifinal to Kentucky. This year's roster includes only one senior (Buford), one junior, and 10 sophomores and freshmen.

Up by 14 at the break, the Buckeyes pulled away on field goals by Buford, Deshaun Thomas and Sullinger to push the lead to 40-20. Buford, the Buckeyes' second leading scorer a year ago, added two more baskets in the 10-0 spurt. The lead hovered around 30 for most of the second half as both teams emptied their benches and the Buckeyes led 34-20 at the half, with Sullinger picking up nine of his 13 points at the line.

The officials were busier than either team, calling 21 fouls and whistling 23 turnovers in the opening 20 minutes. The teams combined for just 15 field goals. Ohio State never trailed from the moment Craft hit a 3-pointer from the right corner to open the scoring. Ahead just 19-14 after the Raiders' John Balwigaire hit a 3-pointer at the 8:26 mark, the Buckeyes went on a 13-3 run over the next 6 minutes with Sullinger scoring six points.

The loudest roar of the night from a crowd of 15,645 at Value City Arena came on a backdoor, alley-oop dunk by J.D. Weatherspoon off a pass from Buford. The Buckeyes have won all three meetings with Wright State, the previous meetings coming in 1990 and 1992.

Thad Matta, now 293-88 in his 13th season overall and 191-57 starting his eighth year at Ohio State, improved to 12-0 in openers. Matta, not known for going very deep into his bench, played 11 and had everyone score. The Buckeyes hosts No. 8 Florida on Tuesday, and the Gators come off a win against Jackson State 99-59 last night as well.

- ESPN