COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) Jae’Sean Tate scored 19 points for Ohio State in a 80-67 win against Appalachian State at Value City Arena on Saturday.
Keita Bates-Diop added 18 points and Kaleb Wesson 16 for the Buckeyes (9-3), who matched their season-high four-game winning streak that opened the season.
Ronshad Shabazz scored 15 points and Delaware, Ohio, native Griffin Kinney had 14 for the Mountaineers (5-7) in their third straight defeat.
A fire alarm delayed the game for 16 minutes with Ohio State leading 48-33. The failure of an exhaust fan in a concessions stand set off the fire alarm, triggering an announcement to evacuate the building. The all-clear was given after nine minutes.
Later, after Appalachian State pulled to within nine, the Buckeyes went on a 9-0 run for a 67-47 lead before the Mountaineers made a late push.
The Buckeyes led 40-27 at the half.
BIG PICTURE
Appalachian State: The Mountaineers are being challenged by their nonconference schedule that has them playing only four of 12 games at home through Saturday. They are 0-5 in true away games and 1-2 at neutral sites. Appalachian State was picked to finish 11th of 12 teams in the Sun Belt Conference preseason poll.
Ohio State: The Buckeyes found their long-range touch in the first three of their four-game winning streak when they made 47.9 percent of their 3-pointers. Against the Mountaineers hit 21 percent (3 for 14).
UP NEXT
Appalachian State: The Mountaineers play at Hampton on Wednesday in their final tuneup before opening Sun Belt Conference play with home games vs. Texas State on Dec. 29 and UT Arlington on Dec. 31.
Ohio State: The Buckeyes complete a four-game homestand vs. The Citadel on Tuesday before traveling to New Orleans to play No. 7 North Carolina in the CBSSports Classic on Dec. 23.
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