November 20, 2006

Associated Press
Rivals.com College Basketball

• Box score

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Mike Conley Jr. and Jamar Butler combined for 16 assists with just two turnovers, and Daequan Cook added 20 points off the bench to lead No. 4 Ohio State past San Francisco 82-60 on Monday night.

The Buckeyes (5-0), still awaiting the return of big man Greg Oden, also dominated the boards against the Dons, outrebounding them 43-29.

Cook shot 8-of-11 from the field to match his average for points. Ron Lewis added 15 points and Conley scored 12.

Conley, a freshman, added nine assists and six rebounds with two turnovers. He now has 33 assists and 12 turnovers this season while directing the Buckeyes' offense. His partner in the backcourt, Butler, had seven assists without a turnover. Othello Hunter added nine points and 10 rebounds.

Armando Surratt scored 15 points and Antonio Kellogg and Manny Quezada had 11 apiece for the Dons (2-2). Jay Watkins added 10 rebounds.

The loudest roar of the night came midway through the second half on Butler's crisp alley-oop pass from near midcourt that Cook controlled with one hand over defender Jesse Byrd for a dunk that put the Buckeyes ahead 54-38.

Conley controlled the tempo in the first half by setting up his teammates for easy baskets. In addition, he did some scoring on his own as the Buckeyes solidified their lead.

The Buckeyes - shorter, thinner and less experienced - dominated the boards 22-11 in the opening half to take a 45-29 lead. The Dons had seven players at least 6-foot-8, while Ohio State had two.

Ohio State led 24-21 before pulling away with a 14-2 run. Conley triggered it with a spinning, reverse layup off a fast-break assist from Butler, who followed with a 3-pointer from the left wing - off an assist from Conley.

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