For the first time in more than a month, Ohio State has won consecutive games.
| TEAM | 1 | 2 | F |
|---|---|---|---|
| OHIO STATE (15-7) | 34 | 40 | 74 |
| PENN STATE (8-15) | 31 | 39 | 70 |
Penn State was a constant thorn in the side of the Buckeyes last season by beating them three times in the span of a couple months, but Ohio State got the best of last season's nemesis in their only regular season matchup of the year on Thursday. Though the Nittany Lions reclaimed the lead in the second half after trailing by double digits, Ohio State put them away to beat Penn State, 74-70, at the Schottenstein Center.
With the win, the Buckeyes have back-to-back victories for the first time since beating UCLA and High Point on Dec. 22 and Dec. 29, and they're one win away from getting back to .500 in the Big Ten.
| OHIO STATE | STAT | PENN STATE |
|---|---|---|
| 74 | POINTS | 70 |
| 22-44 (50%) | FGM-FGA (PCT.) | 22-44 (43.3%) |
| 7-14 (50%) | 3PM-3PA (PCT.) | 4-14 (28.6%) |
| 23-29 (79.3%) | FTM-FTA (PCT.) | 14-18 (77.8%) |
| 6 | TURNOVERS | 18 |
| 33 | TOTAL REBOUNDS | 30 |
| 5 | OFFENSIVE REBOUNDS | 9 |
| 28 | DEFENSIVE REBOUNDS | 21 |
| 18 | BENCH POINTS | 17 |
| 4 | BLOCKS | 1 |
| 5 | STEALS | 12 |
| 11 | ASSISTS | 8 |
Luther Muhammad had a team-high 20 points, hitting 5-of-11 shots and making all eight free-throw attempts. Both Andre Wesson and C.J. Jackson scored in double figures, too, with 15 points each. Ohio State struggled with turnovers, coughing it up 18 times. Jackson had a team-high five turnovers.
Lamar Stevens and Josh Reaves led Penn State with 20 points each.
Kyle Young returned to action after missing four games in a row with a stress fracture in his leg. He scored six points and grabbed six rebounds in 25 minutes. He battled foul troubles along with Kaleb Wesson, who had six points and two rebounds in 19 minutes before fouling out with 1:45 remaining.
Penn State opened the game with an 8-2 lead, but Ohio State rallied for a 21-1 run behind seven points from C.J. Jackson that gave the Buckeyes a 23-9 lead. The Nittany Lions chipped away, eventually pulling within three points to end the half after a 10-0 run. The Buckeyes held a 26-13 lead with 8:13 remaining in the first half when Kaleb Wesson committed his second foul of the game and was subbed out for the remainder of the half, leading to Penn State getting within striking distance.
