Brandon Noel scores 17, Ohio overcomes slow start to beat Appalachian State 75-53

COLUMBUS Ohio AP Brandon Noel had points and rebounds John Mobley Jr added points and Ohio State overcame a cold-shooting start on Tuesday night and beat Appalachian State - Bruce Thornton who scored a career-high Friday in a - win over Purdue Fort Wayne had points for Ohio State - The Buckeyes missed of their first shots and Andrin Njock hit a -pointer that gave Appalachian State - a -point lead with left in the first half Ohio State started the event -for- shooting from behind the arc before Noel who finished of from the field made a with to go until halftime that sparked an - run Thornton capped the spurt with a corner -pointer as time expired that gave OSU which made of from deep in the first half a - lead at the intermission Mobley scored eight consecutive points in the closing run and his free throws with seconds left that made it - gave the Buckeyes their first lead of the tournament Ohio State scored of the first second-half points which included a - run that made it - with to play Kasen Jennings led the Mountaineers with points The Buckeyes finished of from the field of from -point range and shot from the free-throw line where they outscored Appalachian State - Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top throughout the season Sign up here and here AP News mobile app AP college basketball https apnews com hub ap-top- -college-basketball-poll and https apnews com hub college-basketball Source