Men’s Hoops Snaps Losing Streak – Ohio State Buckeyes
2/25/1998 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Feb. 25, 1998
MADISON, Wis. (AP) – Neshaun Coleman and Jon Sanderson scored 19 points each and Ohio State hit eight straight free throws down the stretch to beat Wisconsin 61-56 Wednesday night and snap a school-record 17-game losing streak.
Ohio State, notching its first Big Ten win this season, scored its last 13 points from the foul line, making 13 of 16 late in the game despite a conference-worst free-throw shooting percentage of 60.1 percent.
Michael Redd added 16 points for Ohio State (11-17 overall, 1-14 Big Ten), whose last victory came Dec. 22 when the Buckeyes beat Tennessee-Chattanooga 63-54.
Wisconsin (11-17, 3-12) was led by Sean Daugherty with 18 points and 11 rebounds. Sean Mason added 16 points for the Badgers, who have lost 10 straight Big Ten games.
Sanderson hit a 3-point basket with just under eight minutes remaining to give the Buckeyes a 48-44 lead. It would prove to be Ohio State’s last field goal.
The Badgers rallied to tie the score at 53-53 on a 3-point basket by Mason with 57 seconds remaining.
Redd gave Ohio State a 55-53 lead with two free throws. Mason was fouled with 35.9 seconds left but made just one of two free throws.
The Buckeyes then put the game away on two free throws by Sanderson and four by Coleman in the closing seconds.
The Buckeyes jumped out to an 11-5 lead and never trailed in the first half. Ohio State hit six 3-pointers in the half, three each by Sanderson and Coleman.
The Badgers rallied behind 12 points by Daugherty to pull into a 34-34 halftime tie.
