Ohio State Downs Michigan – Ohio State Buckeyes
1/18/2001 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Jan. 18, 2001
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%^$By RUSTY MILLER%^$AP Sports Writer%^$
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Brian Brown scored 18 points – including the first%^$seven in an 18-0 first-half run – as Ohio State beat Michigan 78-61, handing%^$the Wolverines their 10th consecutive road loss.%^$
Boban Savovic and Ken Johnson each scored 17 points and Sean Connolly had 11%^$for the Buckeyes (12-5, 3-2 Big Ten).%^$
Bernard Robinson had 17 points, Josh Asselin 15 – hitting 13-of-14 free%^$throws – and LaVell Blanchard finished with 13 points for Michigan (7-8, 1-3).%^$
The Wolverines are 0-7 away from Crisler Arena this season.%^$
New Ohio State football coach Jim Tressel was introduced at halftime and%^$received a standing ovation. He then told the crowd, “I can assure you that%^$you’ll be proud of our young people in the classroom, in the community – and%^$especially in 310 days in Ann Arbor, Mich.”%^$
The basketball team didn’t have to wait that long to beat its nemesis.%^$
Ohio State took the lead for good with the burst in the first half as%^$Michigan missed nine straight shots from the field and had four turnovers over%^$a 7:17 span.%^$
Brown hit a 3-pointer, slashed through the lane for a layup and added a dunk%^$to start the run as the Buckeyes turned an 8-4 deficit into a 22-8 lead.%^$
The Buckeyes were on top 41-26 at the half, but Michigan battled back to cut%^$the lead to 52-47 on a pair of Asselin free throws with 8:54 remaining.%^$
A Robinson 12-footer kept the Wolverines within five points at 58-53 with%^$6:29 left before Savovic hit consecutive 3-pointers.%^$
Savovic set up his first 3, stealing a pass from Robinson and then saving%^$the ball before he fell out of bounds at midcourt. His second 3 was a looping%^$shot from the right corner over the outstretched arm of Asselin.%^$
The lead never fell below seven points again.%^$
Johnson also had five rebounds and six blocked shots for the Buckeyes, while%^$Brown had six assists.%^$
Ohio State has won the last four meetings and holds a 79-67 lead in the%^$series between the rivals.%^$
