Ohio State is looking to continue building their success from strong defensive play.

The Buckeyes defeated North Florida by a final score of 85-50 on Monday. They forced 23 turnovers and converted them into 25 points.

“Any team that wants to be good on this level has to turn turnovers into easy buckets,” said swingman Lenzelle Smith Jr., who had seven points, five rebounds and set career bests with three steals and five assists.

“Different teams do that well, like your Kentuckys and your North Carolinas. Mostly every time they get a turnover they’re scoring at the other end. This program is just as big as that.”

“With all the time we’ve spent defensively, I would hope that that would be something these guys could lock on to and maybe hang their hat on,” coach Thad Matta said of the Buckeyes’ ability to score points in transition. “You go back to the game against (No. 7) Florida, at the end of the first half and into the start of the second half, that was probably the difference for us in extending that lead.”