Purdue Fort Wayne @ Ohio St. preview

Last Meeting ( Nov 11, 2018 ) Purdue Fort Wayne 61, Ohio St. 107

Ninth-ranked Ohio State and Purdue Fort Wayne meet for the second straight season Friday night in Columbus and the Mastadons can only hope to put up more of a fight than they did a year ago. In last November's game, Ohio State outscored Fort Wayne 66-27 in the second half en route to a 107-61 victory.

The Buckeyes are off to a fast start that includes signature wins over Cincinnati and No. 15 Villanova. The Mastadons have beaten only one Division I opponent in their first six games and that was a 79-55 victory over Stetson. Ohio State also beat Stetson 86-51 at home two days after the Hatters played in Fort Wayne. The defense has stood out in the early going for the Buckeyes, who have not given up more than 56 points in a game.

TV: 7 p.m. ET, No TV

ABOUT PURDUE FORT WAYNE (2-4): The Mastadons, who lost 75-68 on Tuesday night at Kent State, have gone 0-3 on the road this season. Jarred Godfrey and Brian Patrick, a Kansas State transfer, lead Fort Wayne in scoring at 15.5 points per game. Godfrey is also averaging 4.8 rebounds and 4.3 assists, and Matt Holba is the team's top 3-point threat (17-for-40) while contributing 13.8 points and 5.3 rebounds.

ABOUT OHIO STATE (4-0): The Buckeyes showed no signs of slacking off after an impressive victory over Villanova with the decisive victory over Stetson on Monday in which they led 42-8 late in the first half. Ohio State's two frontcourt starters, Kaleb Wesson and Kyle Young, have asserted themselves, with Wesson averaging 11 points, 10.8 rebounds and 2.3 blocked shots and Young at 11.8 points and 8.5 rebounds. Young finished with his second career double-double against Stetson (15 points, 10 rebounds).

TIP-INS

1. Ohio State has limited opponents to 31.2 percent shooting from the field, which was third nationally entering Thursday.

2. Senior G Andre Wesson, Kaleb's older brother, returned Monday against Stetson after missing two games with a fractured eye socket and had six points and three assists in 21 minutes off the bench.

3. Fort Wayne likes to shoot from long range, taking 159 3-pointers (tied for 10th in the country) and making 60 (sixth).

PREDICTION: Ohio State 95, Purdue Fort Wayne 57