Penn bucks Ohio State

Team effort keys 91-71 win After the questions had been answered in the interview room following Penn's 91-71 win over Ohio State, Scott Kegler just wanted to thank Buckeyes coach Randy Ayers. "He is one of the classiest people I have ever met," Kegler said, "and without him I don't think I would be sitting where I am today." Ayers had given Penn coach Fran Dunphy a call to make him aware of Kegler, a Division I prospect who wasn't receiving any attention. Now a senior, Kegler hasn't forgotten. Saturday at the Palestra, Ayers watched Kegler place the nails in the Buckeyes' coffin, along with Eric Moore, who has mirrored Kegler's growth into a legitimate starter. Yes, the Quakers (2-1) boast Jerome Allen and Matt Maloney in the backcourt -- "one of the best in the country," according to Ayers -- but what keyed this win, both coaches said, was getting five starters to perform solidly. "Some of us, including Jerome and Matt, are not good enough by themselves to carry this team," Dunphy said. "They are fantastic players, but we need five guys in the offense all the time." Moore dominated Ohio State (1-3) in the paint, scoring 20 points. It was his first game wearing No. 5, which his father donned at Penn as its captain. Kegler complemented Allen and Maloney in the backcourt, tying a career high with 16 points. A year ago Kegler was a solid contributor, always good for a three-pointer off the bench to spark the team. He started against Ohio State in his hometown of Columbus last season as a courtesy. This time when he was introduced in the starting lineup, he was a true starter. "To be in the game when the ball goes up," Kegler said after the game and the pictures with his family on the Palestra hardwood were over, "is the greatest feeling in the world because you have the coaches behind you and you've got the fans behind you. You're into the game right away. You're into the flow of it. I love it." The Palestra was rocking, a far cry from two weeks before when the crowd was numbed by a loss to Canisius in the first round of the Preseason National Invitation Tournament. Unlike the ugly overtime win over Lehigh, Penn was beating up on a team -- a Big Ten team, although the Buckeyes had suffered serious player losses due to transfers, legal problems and injuries. "We're not very good when things get chaotic and it goes up and down [the court] three or four times," Ayers said. "We don't have the ability right now to sort things out." The two teams started evenly, with Penn shooting well. Yet the Quakers gave up high-percentage inside shots to Ohio State at the defensive end. The Buckeyes had a 16-6 rebounding edge at one point. Then Penn took a 28-28 tie with just more than six minutes remaining before the half and turned it into a 47-34 advantage at the break. The Quakers forced 14 turnovers before the period ended on a prayer thrown more than half the court from Allen to Shawn Trice, who got his finger on the ball which then managed to go through the hoop. Penn may just have found divine intervention. Even a shot from the corner by Kegler, which he front-rimmed, bounced up and in. Ohio State cut the lead to 50-46 on an Antonio Watson field goal with 16:07 left in the game. "Any time those kind of runs happen it's some of them and some of us," Dunphy said. "I thought they were very patient. They stepped up and made some shots right there. And we didn't pay attention to detail." But the Quakers pulled away for good, going on an 8-0 run to open up a double-digit lead they would enjoy for the rest of the contest. Still Dunphy was concerned. Providence transfer Ira Bowman was called for a technical foul for hanging on the rim after a missed dunk. It reminded Dunphy of a Trice jam against Canisius that also resulted in a technical and changed the complexion of that game. "We still need to do a lot of things to learn how to play," Dunphy said. "We had one stretch there where we go up by 20 points or whatever and we get the ball back on a turnover. Well if the break is not there then pull back. Run a good offense. Sometimes we get a little excited and try to force issues. "At this point, with five seniors being on the floor as much as they are, there should be no inexperience out there." When Allen clicked with former high school teammate Moore, who received the pass under the basket and laid it in, Penn had a 70-51 lead. Timeout Ohio State. "Rock and Roll Part II" played, a baby danced on his father's shoulders, students celebrated, and even alumni had smirks underneath their usually bland demeanors. Kegler really never expected this. When he decided to attend Penn, he didn't have any idea who the other recruits were. "Even once we showed up freshman year I didn't know we could be as good as we can be," he said. And just as he could not have anticipated the Quakers' success, he could not foresee his contribution. "You really can't expect it," Kegler said, "and when it happens it's the greatest thing in the world."