Men’s Basketball Squad Downs Michigan at Home,74-69 – Ohio State Buckeyes
2/9/1999 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
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Hear Head Coach Jim O’Brien’s Post Game Comments%^$
Box Score%^$
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February 9, 1999
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By RUSTY MILLER%^$
AP Sports Writer%^$
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) – Michael Redd led the Big Ten in scoring last year, but%^$now he’s finding other ways to win games for 13th-ranked Ohio State.%^$
Redd didn’t score any of his 22 points in the last four minutes, but had an%^$assist and a timely tip that pushed the Buckeyes past Michigan 74-69 Tuesday%^$night.%^$
“I wanted the ball in my hands in the final minute,” Redd said after the%^$Buckeyes (18-6, 8-3 in the Big Ten) finished the game with a 9-2 run to retain%^$sole possession of second place in the conference.%^$
With Ohio State holding a 68-67 lead, Redd drove the lane and whipped a pass%^$in traffic to Ken Johnson for a dunk with 57.7 seconds left that brought the%^$crowd of 18,645 to its feet with a thunderous roar.%^$
Redd drove through the heart of the Michigan defense, pirouetted, and%^$wrapped the pass around Michigan’s Josh Asselin.%^$
“That was an A’ pass,” said Ohio State point guard Scoonie Penn, who%^$added 21 points and five assists.%^$
Michigan turned the ball over on its next possession when Ohio State%^$freshman Brian Brown knocked the ball away from Louis Bullock on a drive and%^$Redd ended up with the ball.%^$
The Buckeyes ran time off the clock until Johnson was fouled with 15.4%^$seconds left. He missed both foul shots, but his second try bounded off the%^$back of the rim. Redd leaped and batted the ball to the backcourt, where Penn%^$caught it and was fouled.%^$
“Fortunately it bounced off long,” Redd said. “I just wanted to get it to%^$Scoonie.”%^$
Penn hit those two free throws with 11.1 seconds left, then added two more%^$with 1.9 seconds remaining to seal the victory.%^$
Penn raised his clenched fists in celebration as the final horn sounded.%^$
“When the game is tight at the end, Michael and I are really confident in%^$our abilities,” said Penn. “I think we both understand we’re the go-to%^$guys.”%^$
Michigan coach Brian Ellerbe said the difference was the play of Penn and%^$Redd.%^$
“If you’re going to beat Ohio State, you can’t let them score 43 points and%^$25 of their team’s 36 in the second half,” he said. “They made a lot of plays%^$down the stretch.”%^$
A year removed from a dreadful 8-22 record – and an all-time worst 1-15 Big%^$Ten mark – Ohio State now finds itself close to clinching an NCAA tournament%^$spot with five games remaining.%^$
Asked if this was the win that put Ohio State in the NCAA tournament, Penn%^$smiled and said, “No. We’re a step closer, though.”%^$
Jim O’Brien, who suffered through his first year at Ohio State last season,%^$said he wasn’t ready to celebrate a tournament berth just yet.%^$
“All I can tell you is we’re getting a little bit closer,” he said.%^$
Josh Asselin had 17 points, Robbie Reid 16 and Brandon Smith and Bullock%^$each had 11 for the Wolverines (10-15, 4-8 Big Ten).%^$
Michigan scored only two points over the final 3 1/2 minutes as the Buckeyes%^$closed the game with a 9-2 run.%^$
Jason Singleton and Jon Sanderson each added 12 points for the Buckeyes, who%^$have won five of six games since losing at Michigan 84-74 on Jan. 16.%^$
In that game, Asselin dominated inside (22 points, 10 rebounds) and Reid and%^$Bullock made 10 3-pointers. This time, Reid and Bullock were a combined 7-of-15%^$on 3-pointers but weren’t a factor at the end.%^$
Michigan led 65-63 on Bullock’s 3-pointer from the right wing with 4:34%^$left. Redd’s baseline drive tied it before Asselin’s tip-in with 3:36 left gave%^$the Wolverines their final lead at 67-65.%^$
Penn hit a long 3-pointer at the 3:21 mark to give Ohio State the lead for%^$good. The Buckeyes have won eight Big Ten games for the first time in six%^$years.%^$
“In games like this in the last 3 or 4 minutes, you have to tighten all the%^$screws,” Penn said. “We did that.”%^$
