Outside of Zed Key, Ohio State's starting lineup combined for 15 points on 6-for-23 shooting while the Buckeye bench led the way against Eastern Illinois.
Zed Key aside, the Ohio State starting lineup struggled mightily against one of the worst opponents it’ll see all season.
Ohio State’s starting big man should avoid criticism for his performance, as Key finished with 10 points and 14 boards in 25 minutes. Key might have missed four of his five free-throw attempts, but he hit 4-of-6 shots from the floor to help him record his third straight double-double in as many games to start the year.Justice Sueing’s night was particularly poor.
In fact, every starter other than Key was held scoreless in the first half. That group went 0-for-8 from the floor as the Panthers kept things far more competitive than most expected in a game that Ohio State came in favored by 30. Sean McNeil didn’t score at all in 29 minutes of play and finished with just two boards and one assist. Isaac Likekele was the Buckeyes’ second-leading rebounder with 10 on the night but scored just four points on 2-for-5 shooting. Bruce Thornton had another quiet night on offense, scoring five points on 2-for-6 from the floor, although he did have seven boards and three assists. But both Likekele and Thornton had three turnovers apiece.
But outside of his own stellar night, Sensabaugh said Ohio State’s overall offensive struggles aren’t all that much of a concern.
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