Ohio State's 92-81 win over Iowa on Thursday night saw the Buckeyes cut down on turnovers (nine), shoot 53 percent from the floor and saw all five starters score in double figures.
While all of those things certainly contributed to Ohio State's third straight Big Ten win, it was Keita Bates-Diop's seventh double-double of the season that ultimately propelled the Buckeyes to victory over the Hawkeyes, combined with critical minutes off the bench from Andrew Dakich.
| DATE/OPPONENT | POINTS – REBOUNDS | RESULT |
|---|---|---|
| 11/15/15 vs. Mount St. Mary's | 10 – 10 | W, 76–54 |
| 12/16/15 vs. NORTHERN ILLINOIS | 14 – 10 | W, 67–54 |
| 12/27/15 vs. South Carolina State | 24 – 10 | W, 73–57 |
| 1/28/16 AT ILLINOIS | 15 – 12 | W, 68–63 (OT) |
| 2/13/16 AT RUTGERS | 24 – 14 | W, 79–69 |
| 11/11/16 AT NAVY | 14 – 14 | W, 78–68 |
| 11/10/17 VS. ROBERT MORRIS | 19 – 11 | W, 95–64 |
| 11/12/17 VS. RADFORD | 22 – 10 | W, 82–72 |
| 11/16/17 VS. Texas Southern | 17 – 12 | W, 82–64 |
| 11/24/17 VS. Stanford | 18 – 11 | W, 79–71 |
| 11/26/17 VS. Butler | 16 – 11 | L, 67–66 (OT) |
| 12/2/17 AT Wisconsin | 17 – 11 | W, 83–58 |
| 1/4/18 AT IOWA | 27 – 13 | W, 92–81 |
The double-double for Bates-Diop was his first since a Dec. 2 win over Wisconsin, but when the redshirt-junior is able to be effective in the scoring column and in the paint, Ohio State usually comes out on top.
Bates-Diop recorded his first career double-double in his first game as a true sophomore, when he collected 10 points and 10 boards in a 76-54 victory over Mount St. Mary's in the first game of the 2015-16 season. Since then, Bates-Diop has recorded 11 double-doubles, including his 27 points and 13 rebounds against Iowa. In games the Normal, Ill. native posts such a stat-line, Ohio State has a record of 12-1, with the lone loss coming this season in a 67-66 defeat to the hands of Butler in overtime.
The only other Buckeye to post a double-double this season is Jae'Sean Tate. The Pickerington, Ohio native has collected two double-doubles this season, and has 12 for his career. In games that Tate posts double-digit points and rebounds, Ohio State is 9-3 over the last three seasons (did not record a double-double as a freshman).
