Buckeyes Take Down #1 Duke!

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COLUMBUS, Ohio – For the better part of the game, it didn’t look like it was going to be Ohio State’s night vs. top-ranked Duke. But the Buckeyes hung in and used a 14-1 run over the final five minutes to knock-off the No. 1 Blue Devils 71-66 in front of a sellout crowd at Value City Arena at the Schottenstein Center.

This was the Buckeyes’ 10^th win all-time vs. an AP No. 1 and it lifts them to 5-2 on the season. The loss was the first of the season for Duke.

Sophomore Zed Key had his best night as a Buckeye, powering in a career-high 20 points on 8-of-15 shooting. Graduate Cedric Russell was also huge in the closing moments. He was 3-of-3 from long range, had three rebounds and was 3-of-4 from the line, sealing the victory in the final seconds. Russell finished with 12 points on the night.

Junior E.J. Liddell had another all-round great game. He notched his second double-double of the year with 14 points and 14 rebounds. He also dished-out a career-high six assists and swatted three shots.

Freshman Malaki Branham was big in the first half, keeping the Buckeyes in the game early. He was 4-of-6 shooting and had eight points and two rebounds. Senior captain Justin Ahrens was 2-of-7 from long range and was one-off his career-high with six rebounds.

Notes

E.J. Liddell notched his second double-double of the season and the sixth of his career, finishing with 14 points and 14 rebounds. He also dished-out a career-high six assists.
Zed Key was 8-of-15 shooting and finished with a career-high 20 points.
Justin Ahrens has made two or more three-pointers in six of the seven games this season after making a pair tonight.
Cedric Russell was 3-of-3 from long range and 3-of-4 from the line, finishing with 12 points, his most as a Buckeye
This was Ohio State’s 10^th win all-time over a No. 1 ranked team and it was their eighth win in the last 11 tries against the country’s top-ranked team
Ohio State is now 9-11 all-time in the Big Ten/ACC Challenge, having won its matchup each of the last three seasons
Duke had won 185 consecutive games when leading by 10 or more points at half time (via ESPN Stats and Info)
This was the fourth meeting all-time between the Buckeyes and Blue Devils in the Big Ten/ACC Challenge. The teams are now even at 2-2 in the challenge and 4-4 in the all-time series.

Up Next

The Buckeyes will open Big Ten play this weekend with a trip to State College, Pa., to take on Penn State. Tip-off is set for 7:30 p.m. on Sunday night and BTN will have the coverage.

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