Ohio State

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Ohio State's Jim Jackson, the Big Ten's Player of the Year, says he has decided to stay with the Buckeyes, at least for his junior season.The 6-foot-6 Jackson, who had been considering turning pro after the National Collegiate Athletic Association tournament, averaged 18.8 points a game and 5.3 rebounds while shooting 53 percent from the field during the season.The Buckeyes will play Towson State tomorrow at 7:30 p.m. in a first-round game in Dayton."I'm going to be back next year because I feel I have a lot yet to accomplish, both academically and in basketball," Jackson said Tuesday.

Margaret Smith (McDonogh) scored a natural hat trick over a three-minute span in the first half and No. 7 Notre Dame beat visiting No. 18 Ohio State, 13-8, in women's lacrosse Wednesday night. Smith, who finished with a game-high four goals, tied the score at 4 with 7:16 left in the first half. The next two, at 6:18 and 4:37, pushed the lead up to 6-4. The Buckeyes (2-2) trailed 7-5 at halftime. Ohio State freshman Cian Dabrowski had three goals for the second consecutive game.

Chris Bocklet scored four goals and Ryan Tucker had his second career hat trick as No. 1 Virginia came back on the road to defeat No. 19 Ohio State, 11-9, on Saturday. The Buckeyes (3-4) took an early 3-0 lead and extended the advantage to 6-1 by the end of the first quarter, with two goals in the final 13 seconds of the period. The Cavaliers (8-0) went on a five-goal run in the second quarter while holding Ohio State scoreless to send the teams into halftime tied at 6. "I give our kids credit for working back, and knowing we needed to be patient and knowing we were not going to get it all back on one shot," Virginia coach Dom Starsia said.

COLLEGE PARK -- University of Maryland athletic director Andy Geiger said yesterday that he has spoken with Ohio State officials about the vacant athletic director's job at the Big Ten school.When asked last night whether he had interviewed for the job, which opened with the retirement of Jim Jones, Geiger said that he was in Columbus last week. He called the talks "exploratory," but wasn't sure of his status.Earlier in the day, when asked by a reporter from the Cleveland Plain Dealer if he was interested in the job, Geiger said, "Obviously I would be interested, but I don't know where they are on it."

When the 16-team bracket for the NCAA tournament was unveiled Sunday night, Ohio State scooped up the third seed, leapfrogging teams like Eastern College Athletic Conference rival Denver and Atlantic Coast Conference tournament champion North Carolina for the higher seed. It was a remarkable reward for a Buckeyes team (12-3) that was teetering on the fault line for earning an at-large spot in the NCAA tournament. That journey is what makes the Sunday's first-round contest against Towson (10-7)

No. 20 Ohio State's rise to second place in the Eastern College Athletic Conference and the second seed in the league tournament was a result of a 5-1 record in the ECAC that included victories over No. 15 Fairfield and No. 16 Denver. The Buckeyes also compiled an overall mark of 8-6 that included a five-game losing skid after knocking off the Pioneers, 10-9, on Feb. 19. Four of the setbacks came at the hands of ranked opponents, but did the losses - in hindsight - actually help the team?

Midway through the third quarter of Saturday's game against Ohio State, Loyola's Reid Acton checked the ball and stick out of the hands of Buckeyes attackman Tyler Frederick , leading to a Greyhounds goal in transition. The play perfectly underscored the matchup between two Eastern College Athletic Conference rivals that pride themselves on technically sound defense. No. 7 Loyola grinded out a 8-7 victory before an announced 1,584 at the Ridley Athletic Complex. Even though the Greyhounds failed to reach 11 goals for the first time this season, they improved to 9-0 - their best start in 13 years - and remain atop the ECAC.

Sophomore attackman Matt Crofton had a career-high seven points (three goals and four assists) to power No. 14 North Carolina past host Ohio State, 18-5, in men's college lacrosse yesterday.Buddy Lange led the Buckeyes (4-7) with his second straight hat trick. The Tar Heels (7-7) outshot Ohio State, 43-25.Pub Date: 4/30/98

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- A chemical spray was used by authorities to disperse a crowd trying to tear down a goal post after Ohio State's 24-6 victory over Penn State yesterday.The Red Cross treated one person for the effects of inhaling mace and another was taken from the scene with minor injuries after being walked on, spokeswoman Fran Compton said. The Red Cross provides first aid at Ohio State games, she said.No one from the university could be reached for comment last night. There was no answer at the sports information office.

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- A chemical spray was used by authorities to disperse about 5,000 people who rushed onto the field after Ohio State's victory yesterday.Fans trying to tear down the goal posts succeeded only in bending one on the north end of the field, Ohio State public safety deputy chief Ron Michalec said.Three police officers were injured by fans throwing beer bottles and punches, Michalec said.One person was arrested for assaulting an officer.He said it took about 30 minutes to disperse the crowd.