Deshaun Thomas and Aaron Craft scored nine of Ohio State’s points in a decisive 11-2 run, leading the 14th-ranked Buckeyes past No. 2 Indiana 67-58 on Tuesday night.
Thomas finished with 18 points and Craft added 15 as the Buckeyes (22-7, 12-5 Big Ten) won their fourth straight.
After clinching a share of its conference league title in 11 years with losses by Michigan State and Wisconsin on Sunday, the Hoosiers (25-5, 13-4) were trying to claim their first outright Big Ten crown since 1993. They will have another chance Sunday at No. 7 Michigan.
Cody Zeller scored 17 points and Christian Watford added 12 but the Hoosiers weren’t themselves.
Ohio State retook the lead midway through the second half when Indiana went more than 5 minutes without a basket, took control with the late run and never allowed the Hoosiers to get closer than six points.
While Ohio State has now won four straight, the Hoosiers lost for the second time in three games and for the second time at home this season.
Much of it had to do with Ohio State not allowing the Hoosiers to get in sync offensively.
Part of the problem early was foul trouble. Victor Oladipo spent the final 11 minutes of the first half on the bench after picking up his second foul and Zeller wen to the bench 6 minutes later when he was called for his second foul.
But that didn’t account for Indiana’s uncharacteristic game.
The Buckeyes made things tough inside and never allowed the Hoosiers to pull ahead. Instead, Ohio State continually quieted a crowd that seemed ready to party from the moment it entered Assembly Hall.
Click here to read more of this story.
About Marion Online Sports
