COLUMBUS, Ohio -- For the first four games of the season, just about everybody was playing well for Ohio State except LaQuinton Ross. On Saturday, he was one of the few Buckeyes who had a good game -- and it made a world of difference. Ross scored four of his career-high 23 points in a 10-0 second-half run, leading No. 5 Ohio State past Central Connecticut State 74-56. "I knew I was going to come around eventually," Ross said after hitting 9 of 13 shots from the field and adding six rebounds and an assist. "Ive been playing basketball all my life. Everybody goes through situations, struggles, out there on the court. It was just something I had to get through. I knew I would get through it eventually." After shooting 22 per cent from the field at the start of the season, Ross is shooting 63 per cent over his last three games. On a day when the Buckeyes (8-0) were lethargic at both ends, his shooting kept them in the lead and eventually put the game out of reach. "Our mindset wasnt right," said Lenzelle Smith, who scored 12 of his 17 points in the second half. "It was just us. We werent ready to play when we came out of the tunnel." The Blue Devils (2-6) certainly were. Their 3-2 zone befuddled the Buckeyes. They got back quickly to snuff Ohio States transition game. And they took their time on offence, working for good shots while shooting 46 per cent for the game. "We came in here knowing Ohio State is as good as any team in the country," coach Howie Dickenman said. "We wanted to gain some respect; I thought we gained some respect." The Buckeyes had won the only previous meeting between the teams in the first round of the 2007 NCAA tournament. The top-ranked Buckeyes, behind Greg Odens 19 points and 10 rebounds, beat the Blue Devils 78-57. Ohio State would advance to the national championship game, losing to defending champion Florida. The Blue Devils scored six of the last eight points in the first half to cut a 14-point deficit to 38-29. "It was sarcasm and angry at the same time," Ross said of coach Thad Mattas halftime talk in the locker room. "He tried to keep cool because he feels like were a veteran team and some of the mistakes we were making we shouldnt have made. I know for a fact he was upset. I think the whole team knew it." Ahead 38-29 at the break, the Buckeyes had difficulty finishing off the pesky Blue Devils. The lead hovered around 10 points until Ohio State broke free from a 49-41 lead with a quick run. It started with a steal by Amedeo Della Valle that led to Smiths dunk. After a CCSU miss, Sam Thompson hit a baseline jumper and, following a Blue Devils turnover, Aaron Craft fought through the traffic in the lane for a spinning layup that made it 55-41 -- matching Ohio States biggest lead to that point. Soon after, the Buckeyes forced a shot-clock violation and Ross muscled inside for a bucket. He then stole the ball near midcourt and drove coast to coast for another layup and an 18-point lead. The Blue Devils never seriously threatened again. Faronte Drakeford led them with 12 points and Matt Mobley added 10. CCSU outrebounded the Buckeyes 29-28 and didnt back down in the paint at either end. Matta said he hoped his team gained from the game. "Honestly, I said this is one we have to learn from it, but by the same token you have to wash it down the drain in the shower," he said he told the team afterward. "We must be a better basketball team (in our next game) than we were today." A crowd of 13,640 was as reserved as the Buckeyes most of the game. Maybe it was the lack of students, a midlevel opponent, the frosty weather outside or Ohio States impending Big Ten football championship game on Saturday night, but there were long stretches when the crowd was relatively quiet. Smith was asked if he would be watching the Buckeyes second-ranked football team go for the conference title in Indianapolis against Michigan State. "Absolutely!" he said with a laugh. Vente De Chaussures Pas Cher . The Marlies centre set up three goals, including the game-winner, as Toronto cruised to a 4-1 victory over the Oklahoma City Barons in American Hockey League action. Grossiste Chinois Nike Air Max . The Giants chances of winning the division were dealt a serious blow by the three-game sweep at the hands of the lowly Padres. The Giants open a three-game series at Dodger Stadium on Monday night. San Francisco is still in good shape to clinch a wild-card berth, although it dropped into a tie with Pittsburgh in the race for the top spot. https://www.grossistechaussurepascher.fr...ckage-282a.html. Under the deal, the Vikings will donate an undisclosed sum of money to five gay rights-related charities over the next five years. Kluwe said he wont receive any money as part of the settlement. "This will help a lot of people that really do need that help," Kluwe said. Chaussures Pas Cher Livraison Rapide . Ramirez is still hitting behind Puig, only now they are in the third and fourth spots, and the change is starting to generate positive results for manager Don Mattingly. Nike Air Max 95 Destockage . First reported by FOX Sports Ken Rosenthal, its unknown if the impetus for the deferral proposal came from players or management, but it never left the preliminary stages.NEW YORK -- Mark Sanchez has a chance to take the lead in the New York Jets tightly contested quarterback competition. The team announced Thursday that Sanchez will start over rookie Geno Smith for the preseason home game against the Jacksonville Jaguars on Saturday night. The decision came a day after coach Rex Ryan said Smith had a "brutal" practice in what was his "worst day" of training camp. The rookie threw four interceptions, including three in 11-on-11 team drills. Smith is also dealing with a sprained right ankle that hobbled him early in the week, although he insisted it wasnt affecting his performance. Ryan, who was scheduled to speak to the media later Thursday, said it was clear to him that Smith is "not 100 per cent." It was not immediately certain if Smith would play at all Saturday night. The Jets could rest him until the third preseason game next week against the Giants. Greg McElroy, also dealing with an ankle injury, and Matt Simms are the other quarterbacks on the roster. Sanchez started the preseason opener at Detroit last Friday, in large part because he is the incumbent heading into his fifth season. He got off to a terrible start, with an interception returned for a touchdown, but rebounded with a solid performance that was capped by a TD pass to Jeff Cumberland. Smith had no turnovers in his debut, which was cut short when he rolled the ankle on a scramble in the third quarter. Offensive co-ordinator Marty Mornhinweg also said this week that he didnt get a good chance to evaluate Smith in the preseason opener because he was tinkering with several different aspects of the offence while the rookie was in.dddddddddddd Sanchez followed up the preseason opener with a good week of practices, while Smith was hobbled and pushed through the injury. "I think it went about as well as it could," Sanchez said Wednesday of the competition during camp. "I felt good throughout the duration of camp. I thought I threw the ball well. I was accurate. I did my best to take care of the ball and move the team down the field. I thought we did that really well in spurts. I thought we got a little more consistent as things went on. We just have to keep improving. I felt fine with the rotation. "Hopefully soon theyll make a decision and well roll." Even though this is Sanchezs second straight start in the preseason, Ryan said Wednesday that the plan against the Jaguars is not necessarily an indication of which quarterback leads in the competition. But, if Sanchez plays well and Smith doesnt take any snaps, it would appear the veteran would have the edge. Smith, who was cleared by team trainers early in the week, had not missed any time on the field. He worked mostly with the first-team offence Wednesday and appeared to move around with only a slight limp at times. "I havent really been trying to use it as an excuse," Smith said. "Ive been going out there and giving it my all, and I think Ive done a good job of just pushing through this week." The Jets break camp at SUNY Cortland on Thursday. ' ' '