Gritty defense, offensive runs, and a desire to win was the name of the game at the Breslin Center, as the team that controlled their own destiny did everything they could to keep their little brother from a share at the conference title.
Thad Matta and his Buckeye Roundballers had something to say about that in the second half. Down as much as 15, Ohio State had just the spirited effort needed in the second frame needed for a solid tournament run.
It was the often discredited senior William Buford hitting the winning fade from the top of the key with .8 seconds left in the 72-70 victory to end the regular season.
Early, it looked like turnovers, transition basketball and fast break points were going to do the Buckeyes in. Throughout the length of the first half, it was a lack of execution on offense, a breakdown on the wings defensively, and the continued collapsing of the paint defensively by the Michigan State Spartans that was the difference.
The green and white had 5 points off turnovers, 7 fast break points and a 14-7 lead with just five minutes played in the ballgame. But of course, that wasn’t enough.
After the first media timeout, former Valpo guard Brandon Wood went on a 8-0 run on his own. After a coast-to-coast layup off a steal off a beautiful pass from Draymond Green, Wood dialed up long distance off a Derrick Nix rebound pushed up the flor to freshman Travis Trice who found Wood open at the top of the key. A minute later after a pair of Aaron Craft free throws, Trice would get the basketball in mid air on perfectly timed Derrick Nix block that led to another transition three pointer that made it 19-7.
After the 15-2 run, Michigan state sat comfortable at 22-9.
Ohio State would make a run heading into the locker room. The goal being to get to the line after struggling from the field. To slow down the transition, William Buford and Jared Sullinger got to the charity stripe and actually drained their shots. After an 8-2 line, with six coming from the line, the Buckeyes had cut it to a single digit lead with an Aaron Craft layup to make it 28-19. Ohio State got as close as 32-27 on a beautiful left baseline jam from Lenzelle Smith Jr. with 1:59 remaining in the half.
After a perfectly placed Tom Izzo timeout (and a punch of his clipboard that sent his dry erase marker flying), the Spartans got back on pace with the play of Keith Appling. A three pointer out of the timeout made it an 8 point ballgame. He would follow with with the made layup and the old fashioned three point play from the line to make it an 11 point ballgame. William Buford would drain the jumper with :48 seconds to make it a nine point lead at the half.
Ohio State shot 7-28 (25%) in the first half, including 1-6 from three. The Spartans shot 15-29 (52%) from the field including 4-7 from long range.
Coming out of the gates in the second half, It looked like Ohio State had made the adjustments on the court to keep this competitive.
Jared Sullinger forced a steal on Michigan State’s first possession and followed it up with a nice jumper to close the gap to seven. After a Draymond Green technical foul, WIlliam Buford made one of two from the line to close it to six. He would then hit a huge jumper from the right elbow with the follow to close it within 4. After the made free throw, Ohio State was staring at a three point ballgame.
That’s when Brandon Wood would take over for Michigan State. After replacing the injured freshman Brandon Dawson, Wood hit a solid look to close to give the Spartans a five point lead. He would then drain a three pointer from the left corner on transition on a beautiful pass from Keith Appling to push the lead to 8 points.
After the first transition points of the game for Ohio State on a open real estate layup from William Buford and a tip in from Jared Sullinger made it a five point ballgame again, Wood would make another uncontested layup to make it 47-40.
Ohio State would cut it to 4 on a three point shot from the wing on the pass out from the far low block from Deshaun Thomas.
Buford, who really struggled in the first half and from the line (four misses), picked it up in the second half and was key for the Buckeyes clawing back. The offense played through him as the senior put the team on his shoulders in the final 12 minutes.
After two from the line for Draymond Green with 12:06 on the clock, Buford hit a huge long range two from the top of the key. The open look created by Evan Ravenel who covered Trice on the pick as Derrick Nix gave the hot shooter open space.
With Jared Sullinger on the bench, Deshaun Thomas cut it to four with a long two from the right wing to cut it to 49-45. After a two from Draymond Green, Buford would another jumper to cut it to one at 51-50.
On the return possession, Green would be called for the reach over just off the elbow as Aaron Craft went for the basketball. On the ensuing possession Sam Thompson threw up a two hander off the glass to give Ohio State their first lead since the first bucket of the ballgame.
The Spartans would respond with a Derrick Nix three point play. With his back to the basket off the low block, Nix made the pivot to the paint and drew the foul. After making the bucket, Nix would drain the shot from the line to give the 54-53 lead. Nix would do it again after a steal on the other side of the floor. With his back to Jared Sullinger, Nix made a move to the baseline, threw up the under-hander and drew the free throw opportunity, making it a 5 point lead.
With Jared Sullinger out of the ballgame, William Buford responded on the other side of the floor. Getting just enough space on the left wing on a hand off and screen from Evan Ravenel, the senior drained the three pointer to cut the game to two.
After Draymond Green drained one of two from the line, Evan Ravenel went to work. Off a William Buford miss, Ravenel got back on defense and put two hands up forcing a two handed miss. He would respond by getting the basketball in the low post, putting up a two handed layup and draining from the free throw line. Not enough? Ravenel would drain another two points on the runner in the lane. After a Derrick Nix layup on the baseline that made the junior look silly, Ravenel got two more from the line to give Ohio State the lead back at 62-61.
With four minutes to go, these two heavyweights continued to go toe to toe and both stood tall. With both teams in the double bonus, the physicality in this battle took center stage.
After two made free throws from Adreian Payne give the Spartans the lead back, Aaron Craft and the Buckeye offense responded with a perfectly executed pick and roll and dish off inside. With the basketball on the right wing, Craft drove to the paint, kicked it off to Evan Ravenel on the same side elbow — who pump faked, drove to the hoop and dished it off to Deshaun Thomas on the opposite block. Thomas would get the hometown roll on the road to give the Buckeyes the 64-63 lead after the missed free throw.
With three minutes on the clock Jared Sullinger returned to the ballgame with a count of four fouls. On the first offensive possession, William Buford put up a good look from three point territory that fell short. Sullinger tipped it back in on the second attempt to give the lead back from the spartans.
Draymond Green would respond with a three to tie it up at 66-66 with just more than two minutes on the clock. Thomas would respond with a solid jumper to give the buckeyes the lead. With 1:30 on the clock, Draymond Green nailed a leaner in front of Thomas in the pain to tie it all up. Out of the timeout, Thomas would then foul Green on a turnaround layup attempt. Green would hit both free throws to give Michigan State the two point lead.
With 51 seconds on the clock, Jared Sullinger got the basketball out on the cut on the baseline from Aaron Craft. He would nail a two pointer from the corner to tie it all up at 70-70.
Out of the timeout from Tom Izzo, Thad Matta made the adjustment of the game. With Evan Ravenel substituting in defensively for Deshaun Thomas, the Spartans went to their leader. Ravs forced a shot up while covering Draymond Green with his back to the basket and less than a minute to go.
After the miss and timeout, Ohio State went to their go-to shooter in the second half.
With .8 of a second left in the ballgame, William Buford’s best game of his career culminated into the game winning shot. Off the hand off from Aaron Craft, the senior hit a beautiful fade-away at the top of the key that hit nothing but net and gave the Buckeyes the win at 72-70.
Ohio State outscored the Spartans 43-32 in the second half, despite not seeing Jared Sullinger for most of the second. William Buford poured in 25, 19 coming in the second half.
The regular season conference title ends up being shared by Michigan State, Michigan, and Ohio State. Which is surely fitting this season.
This afternoon was the first time all season in conference play that we’ve seen Ohio State overcome everything in front of them, despite not getting what they needed from Jared Sullinger. Without William Buford, this team doesn’t come close, but credit has to be given to Evan Ravenel and Deshaun Thomas for stepping up when this squad needed them.
Up next for the Buckeyes is the winner of Nebraska and Purdue in the Big Ten Tournament.
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