Thomas nets 20 points as Buckeyes bounce Iona 95-70

3/22/2013

DAYTON — The Ohio State basketball team cruised to an 95-70 win over 15th-seeded Iona in its NCAA tournament opener today at UD Arena.

The Buckeyes won their ninth straight game with a two-hour aerial highlight show spanning both ends, from their seven blocks to a layup line of dunks that helped them to their highest-scoring game of the season.

OSU, led by 24 points from Deshaun Thomas and 20 points from Sam Thompson, next play Sunday against the winner of tonight’s game seventh-seeded Notre Dame and No. 10 seed Iowa State. The Buckeyes held Iona, the nation’s second-highest scoring team, to 35 percent shooting.