Evan Turner Hurts Back; No. 15 Ohio State Routs Eastern Michigan Anyway

Columbus, OH (Sports Network) - Jon Diebler scored 21 points and P.J. Hill added 18, as 15th-ranked Ohio State dominated without an injured Evan Turner and rolled to a 111-60 victory over Eastern Michigan at Value City Arena.

Turner, Ohio State's leading scorer and rebounder, was hurt with 13:27 left in the first half. As he drove the lane, minor contact from Antonio Green was enough to alter Turner's direction. He fell hard to the floor on his back and slowly rose to his feet before gingerly walking off the court.

Ohio State officials said Turner was taken to the school's medical center for precautionary x-rays.

The Buckeyes (7-1) did not miss a beat and reached the 100-point mark for the third time this season. Jeremie Simmons scored 17 points and David Lighty chipped in 16 for Ohio State, which was coming off a 77-64 victory over Florida State earlier this week and has won five straight since a loss to North Carolina.

Brandon Bowdry scored all of his 24 points in the second half for Eastern Michigan (5-3), which had a three-game win streak stopped.

Ohio State scored the game's first five points and never trailed. The lead quickly reached 12-2 just 3 1/2 minutes into the contest on a three-pointer by Diebler, but the Buckeyes got a scare a few moments later when Turner left the floor.

Even without Turner, the Buckeyes continued to cruise. A three-pointer by Lighty gave Ohio State its first 20-point lead with just over eight minutes remaining in the half, and a Hill layup four minutes later made it 49-19.

The Buckeyes carried a 62-25 cushion to the intermission behind 15 points from Diebler and 13 from Hill. The Eagles committed 17 first-half turnovers, two more than their average for an entire game.

It was more of the same in the second half and the only question was whether the Buckeyes would eclipse the school record of 121 points scored against George Mason on January 8, 1995. Ohio State reached 100 with five minutes left, but took the air out of the ball down the stretch.

Diebler made 7-of-10 shots, including 6-of-8 three-point tries...William Buford contributed 16 points and 10 assists in the victory...Carlos Medlock was Eastern Michigan's only other double-figure scorer with 13...This was just the second meeting between the schools. Ohio State posted 58-54 win in the first back in 1982.

- Via Sports Network