Ohio State Basketball: A roller coaster win for the Buckeyes

If you are looking to relax for a couple of hours I suggest you find something to do besides watching this year’s Ohio State basketball team play.

This season Ohio State basketball games have usually featured big runs by both teams and the battle against the Penn State Nittany Lions was no exception. Fortunately for the Buckeyes they prevailed 74-70 for their second straight win and third in four games.

Last year Penn State won both meetings during the regular season and knocked Ohio State out of the Big Ten Tournament as well. Right off the bat it looked like it might be more of the same as the Nittany Lions jumped out to an 8-2 lead.

Then the Buckeyes righted the ship, went on a run and pushed the lead to 28-13 with a little over five minutes to play. Penn State then put on a press and stormed back to make it a three point game (34-31) heading into halftime.

Ohio State kept things under control most of the second half and even built a nine point lead at one point and led 68-61 with just over three minutes to play. Then things got interesting again.

Penn State made a run and took a 70-69 with 1:38 to play. Kyle Young scored down low on an assist from C.J. Jackson to put Ohio State up by one with just over a minute left.

The Buckeyes shut down the Nittany Lions after that to pull out the four point victory.

The leading scorer for Ohio State was Luther Muhammad with 20 points. Andre Wesson and C.J. Jackson added 15 apiece. Wesson had a double-double as he pulled down 10 rebounds.

Lamar Stevens and Josh Reeves led Penn State with 20 points apiece and Rasir Bolton scored 15.

Stats and time frames per ESPN.com.

Quick takes:

I appreciate the fact ESPN.com keeps track of the scores and time frames because it’s difficult for me to do so when I’m yelling at the TV. Which brings me to my next point, don’t watch an Ohio State basketball game if you have severe health problems or anger management issues.

At some point you will be fist pumping because you think this young team has finally figured things out. A few minutes later you want to punch the TV or throw something through it.

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Now back to basketball.

I am tired of writing this but Kaleb Wesson must learn how to stay out of foul trouble. He has to score more than 6 points and grab 2 rebounds from here on out if the Buckeyes are to have a chance to make the NCAA Tournament. If not for Kyle Young returning the Buckeyes wouldn’t have had much of an inside presence once again.

And speaking of the 6-8 sophomore forward, his 6 points on 3-3 shooting, 6 rebounds and two blocks don’t tell the whole story about how effective he was. The energy he brought off the bench, and the fact he was a nuisance on the defensive end and on the boards made a huge impact. I know coach Holtmann is glad to have that guy back.

I’m glad Muhammad is beginning to realize he is just as important to the Buckeye offense as he is on the other end of the floor. This kid has a chance to be special.

It was nice to see Duane Washington Jr. regain his shooting stroke for at least one game. He scored 9 points on 3-5 shooting and was 2-2 from behind the arc.

Incoming group of Buckeyes like 2011, only better. dark. Next

The next game for Ohio State will be at Indiana Sunday for a 1:00 PM tipoff. I think I will have my wife tie my hands and feet together before that game and possibly before every other game the rest of this season. I don’t want to have to go out and buy another TV.

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