COLUMBUS, Ohio _ With a defender all over him, D.J. Carton tossed up a three-pointer from right in front of the Ohio State bench. Falling down in the process, the freshman hit the ground as his attempt went through the net.
Springing back up, Carton pumped his right fist as his teammates erupted inches away. The basket gave the Buckeyes a 71-42 lead with 6:07 to play, and seven seconds later he was out of the game with the final outcome assured.
It was one of many second-half highlights against a Massuchesetts Lowell team that had played and won not even 48 hours prior at LIU in Brooklyn. The Buckeyes (2-0) took an early lead and won going away, 76-56, against the River Hawks (1-2).
It was a balanced attack. Kaleb Wesson had 13 points and tied a career high with 13 rebounds in only 26 minutes. Carton had 13 points, four assists and three rebounds. Sophomore Luther Muhammad had 11 points and junior Kyle Young added 10.
Leading 38-25 at the half, the Buckeyes spent the second half adding to the season highlight reel. Carton assisted on consecutive baskets, the first with an over-the-head pass and the second a no-look handoff. Classmate E.J. Liddell had a chase-down block against a driving Luka Maziashvili. Even walk-on Danny Hummer got into the spirit with a steal and drive.
Like in Wednesday's season-opening win against Cincinnati, Ohio State needed some time to get its offense going. It just didn't take until 12:20 for the first Buckeyes points this time, and it didn't lead to a halftime deficit.
CJ Walker broke through with a layup at 16:31 for Ohio State's first points after four missed field goals and three missed free throws. UMass Lowell led 6-2 at that point, in part on a three-pointer by Ready graduate Josh Gantz. But Walker's layup was the first of four straight possessions on which the Buckeyes scored, the latter of which was a Carton layup to give the Buckeyes a 9-8 lead.
They would take the lead for good moments later, when freshman Alonzo Gaffney made the first shot attempt of his career. An unused substitute against the Bearcats, he checked at 15:31 of the first half and swished a three-pointer from the left corner at 13:04 for a 12-10 lead. He would finish with 10 points and eight rebounds.
Against a tired-looking River Hawks team, the Buckeyes would pull away from there as Wesson went to work. By the half, he had already notched his seventh career double-double with 11 points and 11 rebounds, becoming the first Ohio State player to do so by halftime since Jae'Sean Tate had 13 points and 10 rebounds on Feb. 23, 2017, against Wisconsin.
With Andre Wesson on the bench and in sweatpants, coach Chris Holtmann replaced him in the starting lineup with sophomore guard Duane Washington Jr., who made his third career start. It gave the Buckeyes three guards in their starting lineup, teaming him with Walker and sophomore Luther Muhammad. Andre Wesson watched the game with glasses and a bloodshot right eye after suffering an injury against the Bearcats.
Muhammad drew primary defensive responsibilities against UMass Lowell guard Christian Lutete, who scored a program-record 51 points in Friday's win, and held him in check. Lutete finished with nine points on 4-of-12 shooting.
Freshman Ibrahima Diallo made his Ohio State debut with six minutes remaining.
