Buckeyes Fall At Home To Michigan, 61-50 – Ohio State Buckeyes
1/15/2003 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Jan 15, 2003
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Post Game Press Conference Audio
Ohio State Head Coach Jim O’Brien
Michigan Head Coach Tommy Amaker
By RUSTY MILLER
AP Sports Writer
COLUMBUS, Ohio – No one’s laughing at Michigan anymore.
The Wolverines, who lost their first six games, won their 10th in a row as freshman Daniel Horton scored four points and had a steal during an 8-0 second-half run in a 61-50 victory over Ohio State on Wednesday night.
The Wolverines (10-6, 3-0 Big Ten) won for the first time at Value City Arena while snapping a seven-game losing streak to their rivals.
It was the worst loss ever for the Buckeyes (8-6, 1-2) in their five years in their new home.
Horton hit just 4 of 15 shots from the field but led Michigan with 17 points. LaVell Blanchard added 13 and Bernard Robinson Jr. had 12.
The Wolverines used stifling defense to post their longest win streak since winning 12 straight during the 1992-93 season.
Ohio State managed just 14 points over the final 18:27.
Michigan native Brent Darby scored 12 points for the Buckeyes – well under his 18.8 average. Shun Jenkins added 12 points and 10 rebounds while Emonte Jernigan had 10 points.
Michigan took its first lead since the start when Blanchard swished a 3-pointer from the top of the key at the 15:56 mark to make it 37-36. After Lester Abram stole a pass at the other end, Robinson scored on a breakaway layup.
Horton saved an errant pass by diving near the Michigan bench, then as time was running down on the shot clock he hit a 3-pointer for a 45-39 lead.
Ohio State scratched back on a Jernigan tip-in, Zach Williams’ baseline move and – after he blocked Robinson’s layup at the other end – a three-point play by Jenkins for a 46-45 lead.
But the Wolverines countered with an 8-0 run. First Blanchard hit two foul shots, then Chris Hunter stole the ball from Darby and Blanchard hit a follow at the other end. Blanchard’s bucket was set up by an athletic save by Abram as the ball was going out of bounds.
Horton stole the ball at the other end and went coast to coast for a layup. After the teams traded possessions, Horton hit two more foul shots with 3:53 left for a 53-46 Michigan lead.
Ohio State never got closer than five points the rest of the way as Michigan hit six consecutive free throws in the final 1:11.
It was an ugly, physical defensive-dominated game at both ends, with neither team shooting better than 42 percent and the teams combining for 37 fouls and 37 free throws. The Buckeyes made all 16 of their foul shots but got only three attempts in the second half. Michigan hit 11 of 12 in the second half and finished 18 of 21 at the line.
In a whistle-filled first half, the Buckeyes were in the bonus situation by the 12:16 mark as Blanchard and Robinson each picked up two quick fouls. Ohio State’s Williams was tagged with his third foul just over 8 minutes in.
Even with Blanchard sitting out more than 12 minutes, the Wolverines hung close. By the time he returned with just 6:08 left, Ohio State was up only 21-13. They quickly ran off the next five points to pull within three points before Jernigan came off the bench to hit a 3-pointer for the Buckeyes to make it 24-18.
Blanchard, held to just six points in the opening half, hit a baseline 3 with 7 seconds left. Darby, who had 10 in the half, then drove the length of the court for a layup as the horn sounded to give Ohio State a 32-29 lead.
Michigan, which starts three freshmen, hasn’t lost since a 22-point defeat at Duke on Dec. 7.
