Box Score COLUMBUS, OH - No. 17/16 Ohio State used a late second half run in defeating the Iona College men's basketball team 71-53 in non-conference action at Value City Arena.  Sophomore Alejo Rodriguez had a breakout effort with season-highs of 17 points and 11 rebounds in the hard fought loss.

Iona's stingy defensive and methodical offensive schemes in the first half, slowed the game down to a pace that erased the athletic advantage of the Top 25 ranked Buckeyes.  The Gaels kept the deficit to less than six points the entire half.  Junior Jonathan Huffman's three pointer with 1:27 left in the half cut the Ohio State lead to 26-24.  The Buckeyes went into halftime with a four-point lead on two free throws down the stretch.  The Maroon & Gold held Ohio State to just 37.5% shooting in the frame.  The home team's 9-for-13 effort from the free throw line was largely responsible for the difference on the scoreboard.

The Gaels continued their tough defensive play to start the second half and silenced the 14,029 in attendance by scoring the half's first seven points and taking a 31-28 advantage with 17:38 to play.  Freshman Scott Machado's floater from just inside the free throw line put Iona ahead by three.  The Buckeyes answered right back with a seven-point run of their own, capped by two free throws by Jeremie Simmons.  After Gael rookie Trinity Fields' three pointer at 14:05 cut Ohio State's lead to 38-35, the Buckeyes went on a 10-2 run and took a double-digit lead for the first time with 10:37 to play.

Rodriguez shot 8-of-11 from the field and grabbed nine offensive rebounds in his first double-double of the season.  Huffman posted 14 points and seven rebounds while connecting on a career-best four three point field goals.  Machado continued his solid play with nine points, nine assists and seven rebounds in the defeat.  Sophomore Milan Prodanovic posted nine points for the Gaels.

As a team, Iona out rebounded Ohio State 36-29 including 18 offensive boards.  The free throw total and foul margin proved to be the difference as Buckeyes shot 26-for-35 from the line compared to 4-of-9 for the Gaels.  The Maroon & Gold were whistled for 13 more fouls than its opponent (24-11) in the loss.

The Gaels return to the tri-state area and continue their road trip in a ESPNU Bracketbusters return game matchup with Metro Area rival Hofstra on Tuesday (Dec. 23).