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| (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete) |
Lenzelle Smith Jr. once again stepped up big time for #4 Ohio State, as he scored 17 points and had a career-high 12 rebounds as the Buckeyes (19-3, 7-2) flexed its muscle inside to beat the 22nd ranked Michigan squad 64-49 on Sunday, keeping the Buckeyes in a first-place tie in the Big Ten.
Jared Sullinger added 13 points and William Buford and Deshaun Thomas both had 12 for Ohio State (19-3, 7-2), which ran its winning streak over its archrival to six straight and eight of nine.
Tim Hardaway Jr. had 15 points for the Wolverines (16-6, 6-3). Trey Burke, the conference's top freshman point guard, returned to his hometown to play for the first time against Sullinger, his former high school teammate, and finished with 13 points.
The Buckeyes also extended their home-court winning streak to 38, the second-longest in the program's 100 years. Leading by three points at halftime, the Buckeyes pulled away with a 14-2 run midway through the second half. Bookended by 3-pointers by Burke, most of the points came as a result of backdoor cuts or drives. It didn't include a 3.
Buford, who was quiet throughout the first half, got it started with a driving layup. Later in the spurt he stepped in front of Burke's crosscourt pass and streaked the length of the court for a dunk.
Smith, who had more offensive rebounds than Michigan almost all game, scored twice -- a layup on an assist from Buford and a short baseline jumper. Aaron Craft, Thomas and Sullinger, who sat out portions of the game because of foul trouble, all contributed two points to make it 48-35.
The Wolverines drew as close as 50-43 on a basket by Morgan inside. Morgan then stole the ball from Sullinger and grabbed an offensive rebound off a missed 3 by Douglass. But as Morgan was bracing to go up for the follow, Craft darted in and stole the ball. Craft played an excellent game defensively, going wild as he normally does. The effort of both Craft and Smith are quite impressive.
Craft, who finished with seven points, four assists and three steals, then had an assist on Thomas' basket in traffic at the other end to make it 52-43. The lead never fell below eight points again. The Buckeyes held a 24-21 lead after a grueling, physical, defense-dominated half.
Buford, Ohio State's second-leading scorer and only senior, didn't score in the opening 18:57 and finished the half with three points. Smith had nine points and seven rebounds.
