courtesy of The Associated Press

Upper Sandusky graduate Jon Diebler matched an Ohio State record with nine 3-pointers, scoring a career-high 29 points and leading the second-ranked Buckeyes past Florida Gulf Coast 83-55 on Wednesday night.

Diebler, who has now made a school-best 291 shots behind the arc, shot 9-for-14 on 3s.

William Buford became the 47th Buckeye player to reach the 1,000-point career mark, finishing with 17 points. Jared Sullinger added 11 for Ohio State (9-0).
Chase Fieler had 12 points and Anthony Banks 10 for the Eagles (2-6), playing their first game after an 11-day break.

Diebler made three 3-pointers in an 11-0 run in the first half that put the Buckeyes in command.

His nine 3-pointers were a Value City Arena record. He matched the Ohio State record held by Jay Burson.

The Buckeyes took control early and never let up, thanks to Diebler.

The Eagles were intent on preventing Sullinger, who scored a school freshman record 40 points last week against IUPUI, from beating them. As a result, they tried to pack the middle as much as possible.

Sullinger wasn’t a factor, picking up two fouls and playing only 9 minutes in the first 20 minutes while scoring just two points.

But Diebler hit 5 of 7 3-pointers as the Buckeyes hit more shots behind the arc (7) by halftime than FGCU had total baskets (6). Ohio State was on top 42-16 at the break and substituted freely in both halves.

The Buckeyes scored the first seven points over the opening 2½ minutes. After Fieler hit a 3 to put the Eagles on the board, Ohio State ran off the next 11 points.
With his second 3 of the game, Diebler moved past Indiana’s A.J. Guyton (1997-2000) into seventh place all-time in Big Ten 3-pointers made.

The second half was never close as the Buckeyes tried to blend in their six freshmen with four veteran starters.

When ranked in the top 10, Ohio State moved to 249-56 with wins in 40 of its last 42 games. Against unranked teams at home, coach Thad Matta’s Buckeyes teams are now 93-2.

The Eagles dropped to 0-5 all-time against the Big Ten, losing earlier this season at Indiana 88-60. In the four previous losses, the average margin of defeat was 24 points.

Kevin Cantinol played in his first game for FGCU after transferring from Mississippi.

It was the first meeting ever between the teams.