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Ohio State Coach Chris Holtmann Comments on Metal Falling From Assembly Hall Scoreboard

A piece of metal fell from the scoreboard at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall moments before the second half of Saturday's game between Indiana and Ohio State. Here's what Holtmann said about the situation after the game.

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Moments before the second half between Indiana and Ohio State was supposed to resume, a piece of metal fell from the scoreboard hanging above center court at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall.

It fell a few feet from Ohio State freshman Brice Sensabaugh, and Indiana announced a 5-minute delay to the second half. Players continued warming up on both baskets. 

Following the delay, the second half carried on like business as usual, but Ohio State coach Chris Holtmann was significantly concerned about resuming play.

"They said it weighted about 10 to 15 pounds," Holtmann said after the game. "It fell approximately 7 feet from Brice. It would have significantly injured Brice had it connected. Thank God it didn't. Yeah, I was concerned about resuming play. Obviously I wanted the game to resume. I wasn't sure if I wanted the game to resume under these circumstances. Obviously it ended up fine, but that would have been a significant, significant thing and thank God that it did not injure Brice or any player for that matter. Thank God for that because it would have.

I told the officials I was concerned about resuming. I wanted the game to resume, obviously. I'm not saying, 'Hey, down 16 we want to call the game.' I wanted the game to resume. I was concerned about resuming it without them going up and taking a look at it or pulling it down and taking a look at it and determining that it was fully functional anthem there are going to be no other issues with it. Obviously their maintenance, their staff, their game-day staff felt like it was fine, but it was a significant concern, especially once I was – what fell was described to me and what it looked like and felt like."

After the game, HoosiersNow.com was told that Indiana plans to lower the scoreboard late Saturday night and examine it prior to the women's basketball game scheduled for 2 p.m. ET on Sunday against Rutgers.

  • GAME STORY: Jalen Hood-Schifino hit six first-half three-pointers and scored 24 points, leading Indiana to an 86-70 victory over Ohio State, the Hoosiers' fifth-straight victory. He did it all despite dealing with stomach issues all night. CLICK HERE
  • DEFENSE, 15-0 RUN DOOM BUCKEYES: Ohio State and Indiana went back and forth for the first 16 minutes of the game. The second half score was 40-40. But the Hoosiers' 15-0 run in the final 3:31 of the first half, coupled with what coach Chris Holtmann called the 'poorest defensive output' of the season, was too much to overcome in an 86-70 loss at Indiana. CLICK HERE
  • WATCH GALLOWAY'S 3: Indiana is shooting 50 percent from 3-point range midway through the second half on Saturday against Ohio State after this corner 3 from Trey Galloway. CLICK HERE
  • WATCH GALLOWAY'S REVERSE: Watch this replay of Indiana guard Trey Galloway's reverse layup in the first half of Indiana's matchup versus Ohio State on Saturday night. CLICK HERE
  • WATCH JACKSON-DAVIS' DUNK: Watch this replay of Hoosier forward Trayce Jackson-Davis's dunk to give Indiana basketball the edge over Ohio State. CLICK HERE
  • WATCH HOOD-SCHIFINO'S 3: Jalen Hood-Schifino started Saturday's game against Ohio State a perfect 4-for-4 shooting with 11 points in the first six-plus minutes of action. CLICK HERE
  • GERONIMO, DUNCOMB OUT: Indiana's Jordan Geronimo (calf) and Logan Duncomb (non-COVID illness) are inactive for Saturday's game against Ohio State at 8 p.m. ET at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall. CLICK HERE