Buckeyes Score Big in Record-Setting Win

Ohio State's Jamar Butler (14) shoot as VMI's Chavis Holmes defends during the second half of the BCA classic college basketball game, Friday, Nov. 10, 2006, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Terry Gilliam) (Terry Gilliam - AP)

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Greg Oden never left the bench and No. 7 Ohio State still put on a show. Daequan Cook scored 22 points and the Buckeyes' Thad Five recruiting class opened the season with a record-setting 107-69 victory over VMI on Friday night in the first round of the BCA Classic.

"Our guys played against some guys they'll be watching on TV before long," VMI coach Duggar Baucom said. "He (Ohio State coach Thad Matta) has a stable of horses."

It was a spotty game for both teams, particularly so for the Buckeyes with two freshmen and a junior-college transfer in the starting lineup.

"I don't know if I've coached in a game like that, where offensively you're basically making plays the entire night," Matta said as he ran his record to 7-0 in openers as a head coach.

The Buckeyes advance to meet Loyola of Chicago _ a 68-57 winner over Princeton _ in Saturday night's second round.

The 107 points was an Ohio State record at Value City Arena, breaking by three points the mark set a year ago in a victory over Penn State. It was the Buckeyes' highest total since a 121-96 win over George Mason in early 1995. The Buckeyes also tied an arena record with their 43 field goals.

In other Top 25 games, it was: No. 1 Florida 79, Samford 54; No. 11 Alabama 96, Jackson St. 65; No. 13 Texas A&M 81, Prairie View 49; No. 15 Boston College 86, New Hampshire 47; No. 16 Marquette 76, Hillsdale 66; No. 18 Connecticut 53, Quinnipiac 46; No. 20 Syracuse 83, St. Francis, N.Y. 51; No. 21 Texas 92, Chicago St. 66; No. 23 Georgia Tech 83, Elon 49; No. 24 Nevada 85, Alaska-Anchorage 62; No. 25 Tennessee 83, Middle Tennessee 52.

Cook also had nine rebounds to lead the freshmen. His 22 points is the most by an Ohio State freshman in an opener, eclipsing Michael Redd's record of 21 in 1997.

"I felt comfortable," said Cook, who hit his first seven shots from the field. "I let the game come to me. Coach Matta and I talked about the fact that I was rushing a lot of shots and drawing a lot of charges. I tried to relax and let the game come to me."

Classmates David Lighty added 11 points and Mike Conley Jr. _ son of the 1992 Olympic gold medalist in the triple jump _ had 10 assists.

"That was a real good test, especially the way they played a pressing defense the whole game," Conley said. "That kind of defense causes a lot of turnovers and for me to have only two turnovers shows I took care of the ball."

Othello Hunter, a transfer, had eight points and 13 rebounds.