By RUSTY MILLER
AP Sports Writer
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) -- Terence Dials scored a career-high 25 points, including six during a 10-0 first-half run, to lead Ohio State to a 78-54 victory over Portland State on Saturday night.
Dials hit 9 of 16 shots from the field and 7 of 8 free throws, adding nine rebounds for the Buckeyes (6-2). His previous best was 23 points against Towson earlier this season.
The Buckeyes were coming off a 10-day break since losing to Clemson 80-73 in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge.
Ohio State President Karen Holbrook and athletic director Andy Geiger announced on Thursday that the school would take a self-imposed one-year ban on an NCAA or NIT berth because of violations which occurred under former coach Jim O'Brien. The Buckeyes' three seniors expressed disappointment with the decision while saying they would try to make the best of the situation.
Blake Walker scored 17 points and Seamus Boxley 13 for Portland State (4-4), which plays its next seven games at home and doesn't hit the road for more than a month.
Neither team led by more than two points until Je'Kel Foster, who finished with 12 points, gave Ohio State an 18-13 lead with a 3-pointer from the right wing. After Walker answered with a 3 at the other end, the Vikings didn't score for almost 5 minutes.
Brandon Fuss-Cheatham hit a pull-up 10-foot jumper before Dials scored three baskets in a row _ on a power move, a follow and a dunk off an assist pass from Fuss-Cheatham. Ivan Harris capped the 10-point run with a tip-in.
The Vikings never got closer than eight points again. The final score was the biggest margin.
