SB Nation Cleveland - Buckeyes Hang On, Beat Northwestern 58-57https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48841/cleveland-fave.png2011-01-29T19:25:37-06:00http://cleveland.sbnation.com/rss/stream/17272492011-01-29T19:25:37-06:002011-01-29T19:25:37-06:00Jared Sullinger's Free Throw With 3.5 Seconds Left Lifts Ohio State Basketball To Win
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<p>We talked about the need for Ohio State to avoid a letdown after blowing out Purdue on Tuesday night. Luckily for Ohio State, skill sometimes overcomes everything – including overlooking an opponent a bit. Northwestern played the part of a team ready and willing to beat the #1 team in the country. The only thing that didn’t go along was the final score.</p>
<p><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/124094/jared-sullinger">Jared Sullinger</a>’s free throw with 3.5 seconds remaining helped the top-ranked Ohio State Buckeyes survive a 58-57 scare from the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/teams/northwestern-wildcats">Northwestern Wildcats</a>.</p>
<p>Northwestern’s Michael Thompson made a runner in the lane with 1 1/2 minutes to play to tie the game at 57-57. Ohio State’s <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/124097/aaron-craft">Aaron Craft</a> then turned the ball over, but <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/99911/alex-marcotullio">Alex Marcotullio</a> did the same for Northwestern at the other end.</p>
<p>The Buckeyes ran the clock down and Sullinger was fouled down low by Marcotullio with 3.5 ticks remaining. Sullinger made 1-of-2 from the line to make it 58-57.</p>
<p>Northwestern, which has never defeated the nation’s top-ranked team, had one last shot to pull off the upset. But <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/99910/drew-crawford">Drew Crawford</a>’s half-court heave was off the mark.</p>
<p>Sullinger ended with 21 points and eight rebounds for the Buckeyes (22-0, 9-0 Big Ten), who have won their last 12 true road games.</p>
<p>Craft and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/52369/william-buford">William Buford</a> tallied 13 and 11 points, respectively, for Ohio State, which has won 26 consecutive regular-season contests.</p>
<p>Thompson made four three-pointers en route to 16 points to go with eight assists for the Wildcats (13-8, 3-7), who faced their second straight ranked foe after falling at No. 16 Minnesota on Wednesday, 81-70.</p>
https://cleveland.sbnation.com/ohio-st-buckeyes/2011/1/29/1963696/ohio-state-northwestern-score-jared-sullinger-college-basketballJohn Bena2011-01-29T13:39:46-06:002011-01-29T13:39:46-06:00Buckeyes Need To Avoid Pitfalls At Northwestern
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<p>Ohio State is undefeated and #1 in the country in college basketball. That means every team they play will be gunning for them, looking to be the first team to beat them. Northwestern is next on the list for the Buckeyes when the two teams meet tonight at Welsh-Ryan Arena in Evanston, IL.</p>
<p>The Wildcats are a tough out, especially in their own building. At 13-7(3-6), NU is trying to assure themselves of a solid seed in the Big Ten Tournament. They are also trying to break a 2-game losing streak, having lost to Wisconsin at home 78-46 and on the road at Minnesota 81-70.</p>
<p>Ohio State played their best game of the season on Tuesday night when they knocked off #12 Purdue 87-64 in Columbus. It's trips like these, however, after big wins that likely give Buckeyes coach Thad Matta nightmares. </p>
<p>The Wildcats could be short-handed tonight against the Buckeyes as well. <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/52360/john-shurna">John Shurna</a> enters today 4th in the Big Ten in scoring and is nursing a head injury suffered in the Wildcats loss to Minnesota. He did return to the game, but the Wildcats are being extra cautious with him. Shurna is well known by the Buckeyes - it was his 3-pointer that beat the Buckeyes the last time Ohio State went to Evanston.</p>
https://cleveland.sbnation.com/2011/1/29/2328846/buckeyes-need-to-avoid-pitfalls-at-northwesternJohn Bena