Spokesman-Review
National Basketball Association
BOXSCORE | RECAP
Ohio St. 68, Michigan 64
When: 6:30 PM ET, Wednesday, January 12, 2011
Where: Crisler Arena, Ann Arbor, Michigan
Officials: # Mike Eades, # Michael Kitts, # Tom O'Neill
Attendance: 11994

William Buford scored 19 points and led No. 2 Ohio State to a 68-64 win over host Michigan Wednesday night.

The Buckeyes (17-0, 4-0 Big Ten) took a 12-point lead midway through the second half, but had to hold off a late Michigan rally.

Jared Sullinger and David Lighty scored 12 points apiece for Ohio State. Darius Morris scored 18 points to lead Michigan (11-6, 1-3 Big Ten).

Sullinger, Ohio State's outstanding freshman forward, fouled out when he was called for charging with 1:19 to play and the Buckeyes leading 63-58.

Morris hit a shot to make it a three-point game with 1:05 to play. Lighty's free throw with 47.9 seconds left gave Ohio State a 64-60 lead.

Michigan's Zach Novak was fouled shooting a 3-pointer with 22.3 seconds left, but made only two of the free throws, cutting the lead to 64-62. Buford hit two free throws with 18.6 seconds left, but Morris scored on a layup with 12.4 seconds to play.

Aaron Craft hit two free throws with 9.4 seconds left to seal the win.

The Buckeyes pulled away early in the second half. Sullinger's basket gave Ohio State a 43-41 lead with 16:11 remaining and started a 12-0 run. Sullinger scored again inside, Lighty hit a jumper and Jon Diebler and Craft hit 3-pointers, putting the Buckeyes ahead 53-41 at the 11:45 mark.

Novak's 3-pointer with 10:24 to play ended a scoring drought that reached 6:13 for Michigan.

Ohio State, which trailed by as many as six points several times in the first half, led 35-34 at halftime.

Novak scored 16 points and Evan Smotrycz added 14 for the Wolverines.
Top Game Performances
 
Ohio St.   Michigan
William Buford 19 Scoring Darius Morris 18
David Lighty 5 Assists Darius Morris 8
William Buford 9 Rebounds Evan Smotrycz 6
David Lighty 6 Free Throws Made Darius Morris 2
Aaron Craft 1 Steals Zack Novak 2
David Lighty 1 Blocks Jordan Morgan 1
Team Stats Summary
 
Team Points FG% 3PM-3PA FTM-FTA Assists Rebounds Blocks Steals Turnovers
Ohio St. 68 52.4 7-14 17-25 12 24 1 1
Michigan 64 52.2 11-24 5-7 12 21 2 4