Ohio State routs Fort Wayne

C.J. Jackson scored a career-high 25points and Duane Washington Jr. added 20as Ohio State cruised to a 107-61rout.

C.J. Jackson scored a career-high 25 points and Duane Washington Jr. added 20 as Ohio State cruised to a 107-61 rout of Purdue Fort Wayne on Sunday afternoon.

Jackson hit a trio of 3-pointers early in the second half and the Buckeyes emptied the bench on the way to an easy win over the outmanned Summit Conference team. Ohio State has won twice in five days to start the season.

Jaedon Ledee added 16 points and Luther Muhammed scored 12 for the Buckyeyes.

John Konchar and Kason Harrell each had 13 for the Mastodons (0-2), who shot just 34 percent from the field. They got worse as the game wore on, shooting 30 percent in the second half against Ohio State’s backups.

Ohio State led, 41-34, at the end of the first half on the strength of a pair of late 3-pointers hit 23 seconds apart by Washington. Konchar hit a layup on a fast break as time ran out in the half to keep the deficit at seven points.

But then Jackson hit his three 3-pointers in the first 4 minutes of the second half and the rout was on.

Big picture

PURDUE FORT WAYNE » The scrappy Mastodons managed to hang in there until Jackson started raining 3s and the Buckeyes pulled away in the second half. OHIO STATE » Jackson, the only senior among the starters, is on fire, posting a career high despite leaving the game with about 6 minutes left.

And Ohio State’s young players, particularly Muhammad and Washington, are looking more confident and meshing with the more experienced players — which is exactly why games against overmatched teams are scheduled early in the season.

Up next

OHIO STATE » At Creighton Thursday night.

PAUL VERNON — ASSOCIATED PRESS Ohio State guard C.J. Jackson goes up to shoot against Purdue Fort Wayne guard Marcus DeBerry on Nov. 11.