No. 6 Men’s Hoops Downs Penn State, 79-73 – Ohio State Buckeyes
3/1/2000 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
March 1, 2000%^$
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%^$%^$%^$%^$Box Score|%^$Notes%^$%^$%^$%^$%^$%^$%^$
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By DAVID KINNEY
%^$Associated Press Writer%^$
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (AP) – Michael Redd had his typically big night against%^$Penn State, but it was George Reese’s clutch shooting that moved No. 6 Ohio%^$State into first place in the Big Ten.%^$
Redd had 22 points and Reese added 16, including eight over the final five%^$minutes, as the Buckeyes beat Penn State 79-73 Wednesday night.%^$
“I had a little rhythm going, and Coach tried to milk me,” Reese said.%^$”He tried to keep getting me the ball.”%^$
The Buckeyes (21-5, 12-3) are alone at the top – at least for a day.%^$Michigan State can join them by beating Minnesota on Thursday. Ohio State can%^$assure itself of a share of the conference championship for the first time in%^$eight years by beating Minnesota on Saturday.%^$
“You have to expect that Michigan State isn’t going to lose either of their%^$remaining games,” Ohio State coach Jim O’Brien said. “We knew we had to win%^$this one. If we’re good enough to win that game Saturday, I think we’re good%^$enough to be co-champs.”%^$
Reese wasn’t too excited about being No. 1 – not yet.%^$
“After the Minnesota game, if we get the `W,’ then come and talk to me,”%^$he said.%^$
Redd came into the game averaging 26.4 points against the Lions. But he%^$scored his points quietly as Reese made basket after key basket to turn away%^$Penn State’s rally from a 14-point deficit in the final minutes.%^$
Joe Crispin had 21 points and Jarrett Stephens added 19 in their final home%^$games for Penn State (13-13, 5-10), which has lost eight of 10 games.%^$
Jon Crispin had 14 points, and he sparked the Lions’ comeback, hitting%^$consecutive 3-pointers to pull Penn State within 65-61 with 5:31 to play.%^$
“I felt they were never out of the game. They’ve got guys like Crispin – I%^$mean, the Crispins – who can launch it from anywhere,” Reese said.%^$
But after a timeout, Reese drove in for a layup, then hit a 15-footer to%^$make it 69-61.%^$
Stephens made three foul shots and Joe Crispin scored on a fast break to%^$pull Penn State within three points, then Reese scored on a putback. Joe%^$Crispin hit a fallaway jumper, but Reese hit a jumper from the top of the key.%^$
O’Brien said he noticed that Penn State’s defensive switches left Reese, a%^$6-foot-7 forward, matched up with the Lions’ guards.%^$
“We were just trying to take advantage of his size,” O’Brien said.%^$”That’s why we went to him so much.”%^$
In the final minute, Penn made three of four foul shots and Redd scored on a%^$fast break and hit a foul shot.%^$
“This was one of those toughness wins, where we had to tough it out at the%^$end,” O’Brien said. “There’s a little more at stake and they know that.”%^$
The Buckeyes shot 52 percent, while Penn State finished at 39 percent.%^$
With five blocks, Ohio State’s Ken Johnson has 301 in his career, sixth in%^$the Big Ten.%^$
Hoping to end Penn State’s three-game losing streak, coach Jerry Dunn had%^$promised lineup changes, but all he did was start his seniors for their last%^$home game. His usual starters played most of the game – and he got the usual%^$results.%^$
But Dunn was at least happy with the effort this time – unlike Sunday after%^$Purdue routed the Lions.%^$
“I couldn’t ask for anything more from these guys. We get some shots to go%^$down, it’s probably a different story,” he said. “Ohio State made some%^$big-time shots, with a hand in their face.”%^$
