File this one under, “you’ll take a win any way you can get it,” but the Nebraska Cornhuskers (9-9, 3-3) pretty much handed the Ohio State Buckeyes their second win in Big Ten play.
This isn’t to take away from a great second half performance by Ohio State, but there is no reason Marc Loving should have been wide open underneath the basket with less than two seconds to play:
??DOUBLE TAKE ??@lovingthegame32 goes ??on the inbound to give @OhioStateHoops the win! #GoBucks
— Ohio State Buckeyes (@OhioStAthletics) January 19, 2017
While that play is what will be remembered most from the game, the second half as a whole was impressive for the Buckeyes, who did not commit a turnover in the final 20 minutes of play.
Ohio State (12-7, 2-4) trailed, 40-32, at halftime, but took great care of the ball down the stretch, an area that has been a significant issue all season.
Loving scored a team-high 15 points and each of the other four starters scored nine or more for the second-straight game.
One of the unlikely heroes of the night was 6-foot-10 sophomore center David Bell, who scored four points and grabbed two rebounds off the bench in the second half.
It may not sound like much, but for a Buckeyes team that has struggled to find production from its bench, Bell, a native of Garfield Heights, delivered down the stretch.
Bell has only appeared in ten games this season and most of his playing time came in blowouts prior to Thursday night, but it’s safe to say he’s earned the opportunity to get a better look from head coach Thad Matta.
After the game, Matta had this to say to Big Ten Network:
??"My MVP right now is CJ Jackson because of that pass (to Marc)." -Thad Matta#GoBucks @OhioStateHoops https://t.co/EOJnrXAt8u
— Ohio State Buckeyes (@OhioStAthletics) January 19, 2017
The road has not been kind to the Buckeyes this season, but Nebraska has been kind to Ohio State Basketball ever since the Cornhuskers joined the Big Ten.
The Buckeyes are now 10-1 against Nebraska since 2011.
Ohio State is now 2-5 away from Columbus this season and returns home to face Northwestern (15-4, 4-2) at the Schottenstein Center, where the Bucks are 10-2.
The Buckeyes and Wildcats tip off at 1 pm Sunday on Big Ten Network, as Ohio State tries to slowly dig its way out of an 0-and-4 hole in conference play.
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