Ohio State Beats Maine 80-57 to Advance to NCAA Second Round

Ohio State Beats Maine 80-57 to Advance to NCAA Second Round

The Buckeyes used balanced scoring to defeat the Black Bears on Friday.  

COLUMBUS, Ohio – The No. 7/9 and #2 seed Ohio State Buckeyes (26-5, 16-2 B1G) defeated #15 Maine (24-10, 14-2 America East) on Friday by an 80-57 margin in the first round of the NCAA Tournament in Value City Arena in the Schottenstein Center.

The first quarter featured back-and-forth runs and Ohio State held the 22-16 advantage after 10 minutes. The Buckeyes used a 12-0 run midway through a 21-8 second quarter to build a 43-24 halftime lead. Ohio State held the 66-45 advantage after 30 minutes and won by an 80-57 margin.

Jacy Sheldon became the eighth player in program history to reach 2,000 career points. Taylor Thierry and Rebeka Mikulášiková each recorded their 500^th career rebound. Sheldon (19), Thierry (12), Cotie McMahon (13) and Celeste Taylor (12) scored in double figures.

How it Happened

Ohio State opened scoring with a pair of jumpers before Maine answered with back-to-back three-pointers to take its first lead of the game at 6-4. The Buckeyes put together a 7-0 run to lead 11-6 with 6:12 to play in the quarter. The Black Bears went on an 8-0 run and the Buckeyes a 9-0 run down the stretch. Sheldon beat the buzzer to extend OSU’s lead to 22-16 after 10 minutes.

The Buckeyes scored the first four points of the second quarter to lead by double figures for the first time at 26-16. Ohio State’s defense allowed only one basket in the first seven minutes of the quarter as the OSU offense used a 12-0 run to increase the lead to 38-18. Madison Greene beat the buzzer with a three-pointer to send the Buckeyes into the locker room with a 43-24 lead.

Ohio State opened the third quarter with the first five points before Maine responded with five of its own. OSU had the longest run of the quarter – seven-unanswered points to build its lead to 57-33 with just under four minutes to play in the third. Sheldon scored the Buckeyes’ final six points of the third quarter as OSU led by a 66-45 margin after 30 minutes.

McMahon opened fourth quarter scoring with a layup. Ohio State made back-to-back three-pointers to extend its lead to 74-50 and a second 6-0 run gave the Buckeyes the 80-53 advantage with 3:38 to play. Scoring was capped with Maine free throws.