wish on anybody at this level, Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said after Lockes victory against the Dodgers. Hes han

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Ohio State needed a win like this, with last weekends loss to UCLA in the rear-view mirror and the Big Ten schedule looming.Keita Bates-Diop, JaeSean Tate and Kam Williams each scored 15 points as the Buckeyes Ohio took advantage of poor-shooting Youngstown State in a 77-40 blowout Tuesday night.Trevor Thompson contributed a double-double with 11 points and 15 rebounds, and C.J. Jackson had eight points for Ohio State (9-3) in a game that was never in doubt.It was real fun being out there, Williams said. Its one of the best feelings in the world when you get your mojo back.Youngstown State (6-7) shot only 21 percent from the floor and was beaten badly on the boards by the Buckeyes, who scored 48 points in the paint and shot 50 percent on the night.Matt Donlan led Youngstown State with 10 points and six rebounds. The Horizon League team hasnt beaten the Buckeyes in four tries.It was an ugly game on our part, Youngstown State coach Jerry Slocum said. We obviously didnt shoot the ball very well. Were disappointed in our effort in a team that believe it or not is pretty good offensively. We certainly didnt help ourselves in transition defense. It was a poor performance by us.The Penguins were just 2 for 21 from the 3-point line while Ohio State managed five baskets in 15 attempts from beyond the arc.Ohio State rolled out to a 12-1 lead to start the game and led 42-14 at the half. The Penguins suffered a scoring drought of more than 5 minutes in the middle of the half and shot 14.8 percent in that first frame. They hit just two of their last 18 shots to finish the half 4 for 27 from the floor.I wanted to play like this for once, Ohio State coach Thad Matta said. We really challenged the guys Saturday after the game (with) lets see what were made of. The last two days have been hard for these guys, and Im fine with that.Ohio State center Micah Potter suffered a sprained ankle when he stepped on the referees foot on the opening tip and had to be helped off the court, with Thompson taking his place. Potter, a 6-foot-9 freshman, is averaging 4.3 points and 4.1 rebounds. Hes day-to-day.Hes a pretty tough kid, Matta said. Hell get back quick.BIG PICTUREYoungstown State: The cold-shooting Penguins couldnt take advantage of Ohio States less-than-crisp play at times. If Tuesday night was any indication, YSU might be in for a long season.Ohio State: The Buckeyes blew out an inferior team they were supposed to beat, but looked sloppy a lot of the time doing it. They are still a work in progress, with one more pre-conference game on the schedule.I feel like today we really played together, Thompson said. We had fun, and that was the big thing.UP NEXTYoungstown State: Returns home to open Horizon League play against Milwaukee on Dec. 29.Ohio State: Plays Thursday night at home against UNC Asheville. After the Christmas break, the Big Ten schedule opens on New Years Day.---More college basketball at http://collegebasketball.ap.org---Follow Mitch Stacy at http://twitter.com/mitchstacyDrew Robinson Jersey .In my heart and mind Im competing for India, luge competitor Shiva Keshavan told The Associated Press in an email interview. Every day Im flooded with messages from Indians all over the world telling me they are supporting me. Albert Pujols Cardinals Jersey . Now tied for second in the league in shootout goals, the 24-year-old likes to see what the opposing goaltender has in store before he ultimately lands on a move. http://www.authenticcardinalspro.com/cardinals-vince-coleman-jersey/ .R. Smith realized how easily basketball can be taken from him, and he wasnt going to take his place in the NBA for granted anymore. Tim McCarver Jersey .ca looks back at the stories and moments that made the year memorable. Mark McGwire Jersey . "We have always prided ourselves on the way we play defence. Having two big pieces back is going to be a key for us moving forward for years to come," said Knighthawks head coach Mike Hasen.OAKLAND, Calif. -- Sonny Gray still remembers the first time he faced the Pittsburgh Pirates as if it happened yesterday, not three seasons ago when he was a rookie.The Oakland As right-hander made his major league debut at PNC Park on July 10, 2013, and he pitched two scoreless innings out of the bullpen in a 5-0 loss to the Pirates. He struck out three and allowed one hit.Gray will face Pittsburgh again on Friday, only this time he will start for the As in the opener of a three-game interleague series at the Oakland Coliseum. He is bound to have flashbacks to his big league debut.Ive got pretty cool memories, small memories I guess with the Pirates, Gray said Thursday before the Athletics 12-6 loss to the San Francisco Giants. That was a fun day.In terms of wins and losses, this season hasnt been much fun for Gray, who is 3-6 with 5.03 ERA. He will take a five-game losing streak into his start Friday, and he hasnt had a victory since April 22 at Toronto.Since being reinstated from the disabled list on June 5 after missing two weeks with a strained right trapezius, Gray has pitched well but has nothing to show for it. He is 0-1 with a 3.23 ERA in his past five starts.I still feel good ever since coming off the DL, said Gray, who went 33-20 with a 2.88 ERA in his first three seasons with the As. I still think it was the right choice to make. I didnt necessarily have to go on the DL, but thats the route we decided to go. Looking back at it, I think it was still the right call.Gray and the As will face a red-hot Pirates pitcher, Jeff Locke. In his past two starts, the left-hander is 2-0 with a 0.66 ERA, six strikeouts and zero walks.dddddddddddd He outdueled Madison Bumgarner in a 1-0 victory against the Giants on June 20. Five days later, he pitched the Pirates to a 6-1 victory against the Los Angeles Dodgers and Kenta Maeda.Before winning back-to-back games, Locke went 0-2 with an 18.69 ERA in losses to the Colorado Rockies and the New York Mets, who combined to hit .455 against him. Somehow, he was able to bounce back.The guys pitching, and hes confident out there, even going through that rough patch, those back-to-back games you wouldnt really wish on anybody at this level, Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said after Lockes victory against the Dodgers. Hes handled it like a pro and just pitched through it.Locke (7-5, 5.12 ERA) said a key to his turnaround was to stop being a perfectionist.Trying to make better pitches instead of perfect pitches, Locke said. If its a fastball away, just get it away.Locke has faced the As one time, on June 13, 2013, at PNC Park. He is 0-1 with a 2.57 ERA against Oakland.The Pirates, who had an off day Thursday, have won four of their past six games. they snapped a six-game road losing streak Wednesday with an 8-1 victory against the Seattle Mariners.The As are 6-2 over their past eight games and have won back-to-back series, taking three of four from both the Los Angeles Angels and the Giants.Weve definitely been playing well as of the last 10 games or so, Gray said.The As scored 34 runs in the four-game series against the Giants. ' ' '