After early struggles, Deshaun Thomas, Ohio State pull past URI

UNCASVILLE, Conn. -- Ohio State finally got a test away from Columbus and managed to get a win in a hostile environment. Deshaun Thomas scored 25 points and grabbed 10 rebounds, and the fourth-ranked Buckeyes beat Rhode Island 69-58 in the Hall of Fame Tip-Off tournament Saturday. Lenzelle Smith Jr. added 15 point and Aaron Craft had 13 points and four assists for Ohio State (2-0), which struggled with the Rams (0-3) well into the second half. Xavier Munford had 16 points to lead Rhode Island, which had four players in double figures and trailed by just four at halftime. "We're going to know a lot more about our basketball team at 6:30 then we did coming into this tournament," Ohio State coach Thad Matta said. "I think this will be good for our team in terms of growth." This was Ohio State's first game away from home, and its first on a neutral court.