COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) Ken Johnson had a big hand in Ohio State's runaway victory over American University.

Johnson blocked two more than shots than American made in the first half, and Michael Redd and Scoonie Penn came out of shooting slumps as the No. 15 Buckeyes (No. 18 ESPN/USA Today, No. 15 AP) rolled to a 79-43 victory Wednesday night.

	American's David Olsen gets bottled up by Ohio State's Brent Darby, left, and George Reese.

"I had my fly swatter working," Johnson said after blocking eight shots in the opening half as the Buckeyes broke out to a 45-15 lead. American U. (5-5) made just 6-of-29 shots (21 percent) in the first 20 minutes.

Averaging 69 points coming in, the Eagles were held to their lowest point total since losing to Princeton 71-36 during the 1983-84 season.

"I was hoping not to start the new year this way," American coach Art Perry said.

Redd, who had a 26-game streak in double figures end Monday night, led the Buckeyes with 19 points. Penn added 15 points, and Will Dudley hit all five of his field-goal attempts for 10 points in Ohio State's fourth win in a row.

"I'd be the first to tell you, and I don't want to take anything away from American U., but we were the better team," Ohio State coach Jim O'Brien said. "We should have won. But it was how we approached the game that pleased me."

Johnson and the rest of the starters saw only scant playing time in the second half. The 6-foot-11 senior didn't block a shot in his seven minutes of action after halftime.

Tim Washington had 14 points for the Eagles, who ended up 17-of-58 from the field (29 percent). Washington had five field goals, but the other four starters were a combined 6-for-31.

"We got the ball inside, which is what we were trying to do," Perry said. "But when Johnson came over to block shots, we didn't do a very good job of handling that situation."

Ohio State showed signs of coming out of a season-long shooting slump. The Buckeyes topped 50 percent shooting from the field for the second game in a row, going 31-of-59 (53 percent).

It also was the first time this season that Redd and Penn have each hit at least half of their shots in the same game.

Johnson blocked four shots in the last five minutes of the first half as the Buckeyes closed the half on an 18-3 run.

"I thought it was probably the best half we've played this season," O'Brien said. "It had nothing to do with the score. It had everything to do with the way we played."

Penn, who came in hitting just 35 percent of his shots from the field, hit three consecutive 3-pointers in the final three minutes.

"I knew I couldn't go on shooting like I was," Penn said.

Penn finished 6-of-8 from the field, including 3-of-4 from 3-point range. Redd was 8-of-13 from the field.

With Johnson roaming the lane inside, American seemed content to stay as far out on the perimeter as possible. The Eagles hit just one of their first 17 shots from the field as the Buckeyes scored 15 of the first 17 points.

"Our defense is still the key to our offense," Redd said.

After a few days off, Ohio State begins Big Ten play Jan. 6 at No. 20 Illinois.

"It all changes next week," O'Brien said. "They're going to be as big as anybody we've played all year. But our chemistry is getting better and better."