No. 17 Buckeyes need late layup to beat Akron 67-66
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) Zed Key saved No. 17 Ohio State from a season-opening embarrassment, catching a sharp pass from freshman Malachi Branham in the paint and laying in a buzzer-beater to give the Buckeyes a 67-66 win over Akron on Tuesday night.
Akron was in position for the upset thanks to Ali Ali, who was fouled on a step-back 3-pointer and converted the four-point play to put the Zips ahead 66-65 with 6 seconds left in a game that was tied six times in the second half.
E.J. Liddell led Ohio State with 25 points and 11 rebounds, but fouled out on Ali's late 3-pointer. Key had a career-high 14 points and touched off the opening-night victory celebration with the game-winning layup.
''It was exciting. I couldn't breathe,'' Key said. ''It was really exciting.''
Ali had 17 points and K.J. Walton 16 for the Zips, who were excruciatingly close to getting their first win over Ohio State in more than century.
The Buckeyes led 36-28 at halftime, powered by Liddell's 13 points and eight rebounds. But the Zips came out after the break with an 8-0 run. A basket by Enrique Freeman and back-to-back 3s by Xavier Castaneda to tie the game at 36.
The Zips held leads of 62-59 and 53-50 with under eight minutes to go.
''I thought we played well enough to win,'' Akron coach John Groce said. ''At the end of the day, I'm really proud of how our guys competed, the toughness that they showed.''
Ohio State went 4 of 14 from 3-point range and shot just 36.7% in the second half.
JUST GET THE W
Ohio State was eager to get rid of the bad taste from an opening-round loss in the NCAA Tournament to Oral Roberts, which was one of the biggest upsets last year. Opening the season with another upset would have been a blow.
''I thought we had a game full of some really good moments from some of our guys,'' Ohio State coach Chris Holtmann said. ''I thought we were tested.''
OLD-TIMERS
Ten players returned from last year's Ohio State squad. They have over 1,000 combined games played, leading the country.
BIG PICTURE
Akron: The Mid-American Conference squad was tenacious against the Buckeyes and just wouldn't go away. The Zips finished 24-7 last season and look to be on the way to another good season in the MAC.
Ohio State: It was all the Buckeyes could do to survive unranked Akron. Liddell was the best player on the court, but others - particularly guards Meechie Johnson and Jamari Wheeler - are going to have to contribute more. Ohio State lost both starting guards from last season.
''I just think it's a work in-progress right now,'' Holtmann said. ''Meechie had some really good moments. Jamari is still figuring out what all our expectations are for him offensively. With a new backcourt and with some young pieces, we're a work in progress.''
EMOTIONAL REUNION
Holtmann and Groce played together at Taylor University under head coach Paul Patterson, who died in September after battling Alzheimer's disease. Patterson coached for 34 years at the Indiana school and had 28 winning seasons.
''He had a big influence on both Chris and I,'' Groce said. ''I know he's smiling down tonight. We're two of his pupils from Taylor University. Hopefully we made him proud by how our teams played.''
UP NEXT
Akron: Hosts Point Park on Saturday.
Ohio State: Hosts Niagara on Friday.
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Time | Team | Play | Score | |
---|---|---|---|---|
20:00 | Â | Enrique Freeman vs. Zed Key (Ali Ali gains possession) | Â | |
19:36 | +2 | Enrique Freeman makes two point hook shot | 2-0 | |
19:02 | Â | Meechie Johnson Jr. misses three point jump shot | Â | |
19:00 | Â | E.J. Liddell offensive rebound | Â | |
18:53 | Â | E.J. Liddell misses two point jump shot | Â | |
18:51 | Â | Enrique Freeman defensive rebound | Â | |
18:44 | Â | Xavier Castaneda misses three point jump shot | Â | |
18:42 | Â | K.J. Walton offensive rebound | Â | |
18:38 | +2 | K.J. Walton makes two point putback layup | 4-0 | |
18:32 | +2 | Zed Key makes two point layup (E.J. Liddell assists) | 4-2 | |
18:16 | Â | K.J. Walton offensive foul | Â | |
18:16 | Â | K.J. Walton turnover | Â | |
17:56 | +2 | Zed Key makes two point layup (E.J. Liddell assists) | 4-4 | |
17:29 | Â | Ali Ali misses three point jump shot | Â | |
17:27 | Â | Meechie Johnson Jr. defensive rebound | Â | |
17:24 | Â | Xavier Castaneda personal foul (Meechie Johnson Jr. draws the foul) | Â | |
17:11 | Â | Enrique Freeman blocks Jamari Wheeler's two point layup | Â | |
17:09 | Â | Xavier Castaneda defensive rebound | Â | |
16:57 | +2 | Enrique Freeman makes two point alley-oop layup (Xavier Castaneda assists) | 6-4 | |
16:36 | Â | Zed Key turnover (3-second violation) | Â | |
16:24 | Â | Zed Key blocks Aziz Bandaogo's two point layup | Â | |
16:22 | Â | K.J. Walton offensive rebound | Â | |
16:19 | Â | Meechie Johnson Jr. personal foul (K.J. Walton draws the foul) | Â | |
16:14 | +2 | Xavier Castaneda makes two point driving layup | 8-4 | |
15:58 | Â | Meechie Johnson Jr. misses three point jump shot | Â | |
15:56 | Â | Ali Ali defensive rebound | Â | |
15:49 | Â | Ali Ali turnover (bad pass) (Meechie Johnson Jr. steals) | Â | |
15:39 | Â | Justin Ahrens misses two point jump shot | Â | |
15:37 | Â | Aziz Bandaogo defensive rebound | Â | |
15:22 | Â | Aziz Bandaogo misses two point jump shot | Â | |
15:20 | Â | Jamari Wheeler defensive rebound | Â | |
15:10 | +2 | Zed Key makes two point hook shot (Justin Ahrens assists) | 8-6 | |
14:46 | Â | Ali Ali turnover (lost ball) (E.J. Liddell steals) | Â | |
14:32 | Â | Aziz Bandaogo personal foul (Zed Key draws the foul) | Â | |
14:28 | Â | TV timeout | Â | |
14:25 | Â | Greg Tribble personal foul (E.J. Liddell draws the foul) | Â | |
14:22 | Â | Justice Sueing misses two point jump shot | Â | |
14:20 | Â | Enrique Freeman defensive rebound | Â | |
14:14 | Â | Mikal Dawson misses three point jump shot | Â | |
14:12 | Â | E.J. Liddell defensive rebound | Â | |
14:05 | Â | Enrique Freeman personal foul (E.J. Liddell draws the foul) | Â | |
13:58 | Â | Justice Sueing misses two point layup | Â | |
13:56 | Â | E.J. Liddell offensive rebound | Â | |
13:52 | +2 | E.J. Liddell makes two point putback dunk | 8-8 | |
13:32 | Â | Mikal Dawson turnover (out of bounds) | Â | |
13:06 | Â | Malaki Branham misses two point jump shot | Â | |
13:04 | Â | E.J. Liddell offensive rebound | Â | |
12:59 | +3 | Justin Ahrens makes three point jump shot (E.J. Liddell assists) | 8-11 | |
12:34 | +3 | Garvin Clarke makes three point jump shot (Greg Tribble assists) | 11-11 | |
12:11 | Â | Justice Sueing misses two point jump shot | Â | |
12:09 | Â | Mikal Dawson defensive rebound | Â | |
12:03 | Â | Mikal Dawson misses two point jump shot | Â | |
12:01 | Â | E.J. Liddell defensive rebound | Â | |
11:52 | +3 | Justin Ahrens makes three point jump shot (Malaki Branham assists) | 11-14 | |
11:51 | Â | Zips 30 second timeout | Â | |
11:51 | Â | TV timeout | Â | |
11:35 | Â | K.J. Walton misses two point jump shot | Â | |
11:33 | Â | Zips offensive rebound | Â | |
11:29 | Â | Justin Ahrens shooting foul (K.J. Walton draws the foul) | Â | |
11:29 | +1 | K.J. Walton makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 12-14 | |
11:29 | +1 | K.J. Walton makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 13-14 | |
11:02 | Â | E.J. Liddell misses two point jump shot | Â | |
11:00 | Â | Zips defensive rebound | Â | |
10:40 | +2 | Greg Tribble makes two point floating jump shot | 15-14 | |
10:19 | +2 | E.J. Liddell makes two point layup (Justin Ahrens assists) | 15-16 | |
10:13 | Â | E.J. Liddell personal foul | Â | |
10:03 | Â | Greg Tribble offensive foul | Â | |
10:03 | Â | Greg Tribble turnover | Â | |
9:33 | +2 | Zed Key makes two point layup (Malaki Branham assists) | 15-18 | |
9:13 | Â | Bryan Trimble Jr. misses three point jump shot | Â | |
9:11 | Â | Malaki Branham defensive rebound | Â | |
9:04 | Â | Meechie Johnson Jr. turnover (lost ball) | Â | |
8:56 | Â | Bryan Trimble Jr. misses three point jump shot | Â | |
8:54 | Â | Meechie Johnson Jr. defensive rebound | Â | |
8:36 | Â | Justin Ahrens turnover (Bryan Trimble Jr. steals) | Â | |
8:31 | +2 | Bryan Trimble Jr. makes two point driving layup | 17-18 | |
8:15 | Â | Zed Key misses two point layup | Â | |
8:15 | Â | Zed Key misses two point layup | Â | |
8:13 | Â | Justice Sueing offensive rebound | Â | |
8:07 | +2 | Justice Sueing makes two point tip shot | 17-20 | |
8:07 | Â | Meechie Johnson Jr. personal foul (Xavier Castaneda draws the foul) | Â | |
8:04 | Â | Bryan Trimble Jr. misses three point jump shot | Â | |
8:02 | Â | Buckeyes defensive rebound | Â | |
8:00 | Â | TV timeout | Â | |
7:29 | Â | Jump ball. Eugene Brown III vs. Xavier Castaneda (Buckeyes gains possession) | Â | |
7:27 | Â | Buckeyes turnover (shot clock violation) | Â | |
7:19 | Â | Greg Tribble misses two point layup | Â | |
7:17 | Â | Malaki Branham defensive rebound | Â | |
7:03 | +3 | E.J. Liddell makes three point jump shot (Eugene Brown III assists) | 17-23 | |
6:29 | Â | Xavier Castaneda turnover (out of bounds) | Â | |
6:23 | Â | E.J. Liddell turnover (bad pass) | Â | |
6:16 | +2 | K.J. Walton makes two point driving layup | 19-23 | |
5:44 | +2 | E.J. Liddell makes two point pullup jump shot | 19-25 | |
5:13 | Â | Bryan Trimble Jr. misses three point jump shot | Â | |
5:11 | Â | Buckeyes defensive rebound | Â | |
5:06 | Â | Mikal Dawson shooting foul (E.J. Liddell draws the foul) | Â | |
5:06 | +1 | E.J. Liddell makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 19-26 | |
5:06 | Â | E.J. Liddell misses regular free throw 2 of 2 | Â | |
5:06 | Â | Zed Key offensive rebound | Â | |
5:03 | Â | Zed Key misses two point hook shot | Â | |
5:01 | Â | E.J. Liddell offensive rebound | Â | |
4:55 | +2 | E.J. Liddell makes two point putback dunk | 19-28 | |
4:36 | Â | K.J. Walton turnover (lost ball) (Malaki Branham steals) | Â | |
4:26 | Â | Malaki Branham misses two point jump shot | Â | |
4:24 | Â | E.J. Liddell offensive rebound | Â | |
4:20 | +2 | Malaki Branham makes two point putback layup | 19-30 | |
4:20 | Â | Zips 30 second timeout | Â | |
4:20 | Â | TV timeout | Â | |
4:07 | Â | Xavier Castaneda misses three point jump shot | Â | |
4:05 | Â | E.J. Liddell defensive rebound | Â | |
3:36 | Â | Xavier Castaneda personal foul (E.J. Liddell draws the foul) | Â | |
3:36 | +1 | E.J. Liddell makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 19-31 | |
3:36 | Â | E.J. Liddell misses regular free throw 2 of 2 | Â | |
3:36 | Â | Enrique Freeman defensive rebound | Â | |
3:35 | Â | Joey Brunk personal foul (Enrique Freeman draws the foul) | Â | |
3:18 | Â | E.J. Liddell shooting foul (Garvin Clarke draws the foul) | Â | |
3:18 | +1 | Garvin Clarke makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 20-31 | |
3:18 | +1 | Garvin Clarke makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 21-31 | |
2:56 | +2 | Joey Brunk makes two point hook shot | 21-33 | |
2:38 | Â | Cedric Russell personal foul (K.J. Walton draws the foul) | Â | |
2:38 | Â | K.J. Walton misses regular free throw 1 of 1 | Â | |
2:38 | Â | Joey Brunk defensive rebound | Â | |
2:22 | +2 | Joey Brunk makes two point hook shot | 21-35 | |
1:54 | Â | Garvin Clarke misses two point layup | Â | |
1:52 | Â | Enrique Freeman offensive rebound | Â | |
1:47 | +2 | Enrique Freeman makes two point tip shot | 23-35 | |
1:28 | Â | Justin Ahrens turnover (lost ball) | Â | |
1:13 | +2 | Ali Ali makes two point turnaround jump shot | 25-35 | |
0:40 | Â | Jamari Wheeler misses two point jump shot | Â | |
0:38 | Â | Garvin Clarke defensive rebound | Â | |
0:30 | +2 | K.J. Walton makes two point driving layup | 27-35 | |
0:30 | Â | Cedric Russell shooting foul (K.J. Walton draws the foul) | Â | |
0:30 | Â | Bryan Trimble Jr. technical foul | Â | |
0:30 | Â | Justin Ahrens misses technical free throw 1 of 2 | Â | |
0:30 | Â | Justin Ahrens misses technical free throw 1 of 2 | Â | |
0:30 | +1 | Justin Ahrens makes technical free throw 2 of 2 | 27-36 | |
0:30 | +1 | K.J. Walton makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 28-36 | |
0:05 | Â | Justice Sueing misses three point jump shot | Â | |
0:03 | Â | Garvin Clarke defensive rebound | Â | |
0:03 | Â | Garvin Clarke misses two point pullup jump shot | Â | |
0:01 | Â | Enrique Freeman offensive rebound | Â | |
0:01 | Â | Enrique Freeman offensive rebound | Â |