with a .617 OPS. He has five hits in his past 29 at-bats and just one multihit game since July 9.We had a

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- JaeSean Tate scored 21 points and pulled down 10 rebounds as Ohio State overcame cold shooting and some ugly play to beat North Carolina Central 69-63 Monday night.Ohio State (2-0) struggled for much of the game and let the Eagles hang around. The Buckeyes shot just 46.4 percent from the floor and were lucky to get away with the victory over the less-talented Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference team.We just didnt come out ready to play today, Tate said.Fortunately for the Buckeyes, North Carolina Central (0-2) was sloppier, committing 20 turnovers and losing two players to fouls, including point guard Dajuan Graf.Patrick Cole carried the load for the NCCU with 26 points. Ron Trapps added 12 points and a team-high seven rebounds.Freshman center Micah Potter added 11 points on 3-for-4 shooting from the 3-point line for the Buckeyes, and Keita Bates-Diop had nine.I didnt like a whole lot of what I saw tonight, Ohio State coach Thad Matta said.Ohio State led 31-29 after a slow start by both teams in the first half. The Buckeyes had a 12-0 run and led by as much as 21-11 with 9:17 left in the first, but allowed North Carolina Central to slowly climb back. The Eagles briefly had a lead until Tate hit a 3-pointer at the buzzer to end the half. They cut the lead to five with 40 seconds left.Hats off to Ohio State. They made some significant plays at significant time, NCCU coach LeVelle Moton said. I thought we did enough to win the basketball game.North Carolina Central led 32-31 with 18:46 to go in the game, but the Buckeyes slowly pulled away.Weve got Providence next, and if we come out like that its not going to be pretty, Tate said . We know from last year that these early games count. We cant just be lackadaisical. We have to come out there and be the first team to punch the other in the mouth.Ohio State starting forward Marc Loving sat much of the first half after picking up two fouls in the first 1:15 of the game. He finished with three points.BIG PICTURENorth Carolina Central: If theres such thing as a moral victory, the Eagles got one by staying with the Buckeyes for most of the game. In the end, the best the Eagles got from the trip to Columbus was a chance to hone their game against a more-talented team. They nearly pulled off the upset.Ohio State: The Buckeyes were put on notice that this years version still needs a lot of work. Fortunately there are more tune-up games before conference play begins after Christmas.QUOTABLEWe werent physically and mentally very tough, Matta said. Obviously, we have to get that corrected.LYLE STRUGGLINGStarting point guard JaQuan Lyle sat most the second half Monday in favor of C.J. Jackson. He finished with five points. Lyle also sat most of the second half of last weeks win over Navy.UP NEXTNorth Carolina Central plays Wednesday at Western Carolina.Ohio State stays home to play Providence Thursday night. Jordan Poyer Jersey . Badenhop was 2-3 with a 3.47 ERA in 63 relief appearances for Milwaukee this season. He is 18-20 in his career with three saves and a 3. Jim Kelly Bills Jersey . That gave fans outside Joe Louis Arena another chance to ask for autographs from the 19-year-old whose stardom in the NHL has arrived earlier than most expected. http://www.authenticbillsfanaticfootball.com/authentic-devin-singletary-bills-jersey/ . Sulaiman, 44, was chosen unanimously Tuesday in a vote by the leadership, the World Boxing Council said. Sulaiman becomes the sixth president of the organization. Ed Oliver Womens Jersey . -- Its been a long road back for Sean Bergenheim. Andre Roberts Bills Jersey .Y. - New York City has been selected to host the NBA All-Star weekend in 2015, with the game played at Madison Square Garden and the slam dunk contest and other skills events held at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn. DENVER -- Chicago Cubs manager Joe Maddon is giving struggling Jason Heyward the weekend off, allowing his right fielder to take a break as the team begins a road trip in Colorado.Started off by giving him a day, Maddon said of Thursdays game against Milwaukee. We have a lefty today [facing the Cubs], lefty on Sunday so ... just give him the whole weekend off. Let him chill a little bit for the weekend.Heyward, who signed an eight-year, $184 million contract with the Cubs last winter, is hitting .225 with a .617 OPS. He has five hits in his past 29 at-bats and just one multihit game since July 9.We had a great conversation, Maddon said. You just sit there and have a straight-up conversation between two people and both sides get it. It sounded like a good idea to him, also. He was all for it.Heyward is being pushed by hot-hitting outfielders Jorge Soler and Matt Szczur; both are in Fridays starting lineup facing the Rockies. Maddon indicated Heyyward would start on Monday against San Diego, but when asked if he might sit more against left-handers, the manager didnt commit to anything longer term.ddddddddddddWell make that evaluation as we move it forward, Maddon said. You can see right now Jorge is doing well, Matt Szczur is doing well.It was only a day ago that Maddon indicated he liked how the team looked with Heyward as a starter.If youre standing in the dugout and you dont know anything else and you look at him in right field, I cant be more comfortable with this guy on the field while were playing baseball, Maddon said Thursday. Hes such a good baseball player.Heywards offensive struggles combined with backups hitting well obviously changed Maddons mind.Come back for sure Monday in San Diego, Maddon said. Play him in an emergency only [this weekend]. ' ' '