Indiana Edges Ohio State, Who Continue To Lose Big Games

The Indiana Hoosiers (#13 in ESPN/USA Today coache's poll) held off the Ohio State Buckeyes 59-53 in a fairly close affair at Value City Arena in Columbus. In a game marked by mediocre shooting and very few free throws attempted (15 total between the two teams), IU did just enough to fend off every OSU run, constantly keeping the lead at 4 to 6 points throughout most of the 2nd half by playing good team defense and just working it down low.

OSU leading scorer Jamar Butler, who came in averaging 14.8 ppg was held to just 4 points on 2 of 8 shooting (including 0 for 5 behind the 3 point arc). All Big Ten conference stud DJ White led Indiana with 21 points, and frosh Eric Gordon chipped in 15 to provide a consistent inside-outside puzzle that OSU couldn't solve.

The win propelled IU to 20-3 (9-1 in the Big Ten), allowing them to keep 1/2 game back of Purdue, who upset #8 ranked Wisconsin again last night. The loss dropped OSU to 16-8, and 7-4 in the Big Ten, virtually eliminating them from title contention. They are now 0-3 against the top of the Big Ten, with losses to Purdue, Michigan State, and Indiana, and with upcoming rematches against all three over the next month. They seem to be paying the price this year for recruiting 3 fab freshman (Oden, Conley, Cook) who made the leap to the NBA after one year last year.