After overcoming a first-half deficit, Ohio State overpowered Penn State, 77-67, Wednesday night in State College.
| 1 | 2 | F | |
|---|---|---|---|
| NO. 23 OHIO STATE | 29 | 48 | 77 |
| PENN STATE | 30 | 37 | 67 |
D'Angelo Russell, the star freshman guard, led the way with 28 points, six rebounds, three assists and three steals. Jae'Sean Tate, the freshman forward, and Shannon Scott, the senior guard, chipped in 13 points apiece.
With the win, the Buckeyes have won three straight games since dropping back-to-back games to Michigan State and Michigan, the latter of which raised questions over whether Ohio State had turned a corner with the regular season nearing an end.
Yet after a plucky win over Purdue last weekend and decisive victory on the road against the Nittany Lions, the Buckeyes would appear to be on the upswing with the postseason looming.
| OHIO STATE | STAT | PENN STATE |
|---|---|---|
| 77 | POINTS | 67 |
| 24-56 (42.9) | FGM-FGA (PCT.) | 22-52 (42.3) |
| 6-17 (35.3) | 3PM-3PA (PCT.) | 3-17 (17.6) |
| 23-36 (63.9) | FTM-FTA (PCT.) | 20-24 (83.3) |
| 9 | TURNOVERS | 11 |
| 38 | TOTAL REBOUNDS | 31 |
| 11 | OFFENSIVE REBOUNDS | 6 |
| 27 | DEFENSIVE REBOUNDS | 25 |
| 13 | BENCH POINTS | 27 |
| 1 | BLOCKS | 3 |
| 7 | STEALS | 6 |
| 11 | ASSISTS | 9 |
The victory also marks coach Thad Matta's 297th win in Columbus, which ties him with former coach Fred Taylor as the winningest coach in school history.
While Ohio State fell behind by as many as eight points in the first half, the Buckeyes closed the period on a 9-1 run. They trailed, 30-29, at intermission.
Again, in the second half, Matta's club fell behind early. But thanks to Russell, the Buckeyes ultimately overpowered the middling Nittany Lions and pulled away midway through the game's final 20 minutes. It's the sixth-straight loss for Penn State.
Ohio State concludes the regular season against Big Ten leader Wisconsin on Sunday afternoon in Columbus.
