Andre Wesson set the tone, and the rest of Ohio State's team followed.
The senior forward hit three 3-pointers in the first five minutes of Tuesday's game against Nebraska that gave the Buckeyes a lead they never relinquished. Back home at the Schottenstein Center, No. 21 Ohio State ended a four-game losing streak that spanned more than two weeks, topping the Cornhuskers, 80-68.
| TEAM | 1 | 2 | F |
|---|---|---|---|
| #21 OHIO STATE | 38 | 42 | 80 |
| NEBRASKA | 25 | 43 | 68 |
This was the Buckeyes' first victory since beating Kentucky on Dec. 21. Even without Luther Muhammad and Duane Washington Jr., both of whom were suspended for the game, they improved their record to 12-5. However, they remain under .500 in the Big Ten with a 2-4 record against in-conference opponents.
In a game bereft of much drama or many extended runs from either team, Ohio State pulled ahead of the Cornhuskers (7-10) by double figures before the 11-minute mark of the first half and never led by fewer than eight points the remainder of the game. By the 10-minute mark of the second half, the advantage had reached 20 points.
In a balanced attack reminiscent of offensive performances earlier this season, Ohio State had six players score in double figures and topped 60 points for the first time since its last win.
| OHIO STATE | STAT | NEBRASKA |
|---|---|---|
| 80 | POINTS | 68 |
| 30-55 (54.5%) | FGM-FGA (PCT.) | 28-66 (42.4%) |
| 10-22 (45.5%) | 3PM-3PA (PCT.) | 9-22 (40.9%) |
| 10-15 (66.7%) | FTM-FTA (PCT.) | 3-5 (60.0%) |
| 12 | TURNOVERS | 9 |
| 35 | TOTAL REBOUNDS | 32 |
| 8 | OFFENSIVE REBOUNDS | 12 |
| 27 | DEFENSIVE REBOUNDS | 20 |
| 15 | BENCH POINTS | 15 |
| 9 | BLOCKS | 3 |
| 2 | STEALS | 2 |
| 17 | ASSISTS | 15 |
Kaleb Wesson recorded his seventh double-double of the season, putting up 13 points and grabbing 14 rebounds. His older brother, Andre, only scored once after his trio of triples to initially give his team the lead, ending the game with 11 points.
Starting together in the backcourt for the first time this season, DJ Carton and CJ Walker both played the majority of the game at guard. Carton, a freshman, had 13 points, five assists and three rebounds, and Walker scored a season-high 18 points and dished four assists.
Nebraska, picked to finish near the bottom of the Big Ten this season, couldn't score with any degree of consistency. It shot 42.4 percent from the field and went 3-for-5 from the free-throw line.
Next up: Ohio State heads on the road to take on Penn State on Saturday. The game is scheduled to tip off at noon, and it'll be televised on ESPNU.
Other Notes
- Justice Sueing was not on the bench during the game. The transfer from California, who's sitting out this season, had been in attendance for all prior games.
- Ohio State announced the football team, along with the Big Ten championship trophy, will be honored during the basketball game against Minnesota on Jan. 23.
- At halftime of Tuesday's game, Ohio State had seven men's hockey players throw T-shirts into the crowd.
- University president Michael Drake and athletic director Gene Smith were in attendance.
- This was Ohio State's first home win since beating Southeast Missouri State, 80-48, on Dec. 17.
