Post Game Notes From Ohio State vs. Michigan State – Ohio State Buckeyes
3/15/2003 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
March 15, 2003
Recap| Box Score| Photo Gallery
Ohio State has an overall record of 64-57 in games decided byone point following the 55-54 win over Michigan State. Ohio Statefell to Wisconsin 53-52 Jan. 18 in Columbus. Ohio State is 11-8 inone-point games played on neutral courts. The last one-pointneutral-site game won by Ohio State was March 15, 1990 againstProvidence in an NCAA tournament first round game in Salt LakeCity, Utah. The Buckeyes won that contest 84-83. Ohio State has wonthree-consecutive games for the second consecutive year in Big Tentournament play. Ohio State has never played four consecutive gamesin as many days in history. Ohio State is 17-0 this season whenleading with 5:00 remaining in the second half. Ohio State has held13 opponents to a shooting percentage below 40 percent this year.The Buckeyes are 11-2 in those games, which includes a streak ofnine-consecutive wins when the opponent fails to reach 40 percentfrom the field. Charles Bass’ free throw with 6 seconds remainingwas his first foul shot of the season and his seventh point of theyear. Senior Brent Darby is No. 21 all-time in career scoring atOhio State with 1,329 career points following a 23-point effortagainst Michigan State. Darby passed Clark Kellogg (1,285) vs. IowaThursday and now trails Jim Cleamons (1969-71) who is No. 20 with1,335 points. Darby is No. 2 all-time in 3-pointers made. He hasmade 148 career treys, five behind No. 1 Scoonie Penn (153). SeniorSean Connolly moved to No. 7 all time in single-season 3-pointersmade after a 5-for-7 effort Friday against Wisconsin. He hasconnected on 58 this year. Darby is 10th with 50 made this season.Darby moved to No. 3 in single season foul shots made (200) and isNo. 4 in single-season foul shots attempted (245) with his 11 of 13effort from the charity stripe against Michigan State. Darby’s 547points this season have earned him a spot in the Ohio State500-point club … he is the 22nd player in OSU history to score500 or more in a single season … Brian Brown was the last to doso with 520 points in 2002. His point total this season rates No.24 all time at Ohio State for points scored in a season. Darbyextended his scoring streak with 10 or more points to 24 games, thelongest stretch of games in his career in double digits, and in 28of 30 contests this year. The Buckeyes are 7-4 overall in Big Tentournament play … the Buckeyes have advanced to the title gamefor the second-consecutive year and have won six-consecutive gamesin the tournament. The win over Michigan State was the firstagainst the Spartans on a neutral court in the series between thetwo schools. The Buckeyes are 46-56 all-time against MichiganState. Darby finished his career with 122 career points in ninegames against Michigan State for an average of 13.6 points vs. theSpartans. Darby owns the OSU record for minutes played in the BigTen tournament with 40 in both the Iowa and Wisconsin games. Heplayed 38 minutes against Michigan State and has played a total of118 in the last three days … Darby has played 40 minutes in 13games this season and 39 or more in 16. Jim O’Brien has 119victories in six seasons at Ohio State for an average of 19.8victories a year. Ohio State’s three-consecutive wins marks justthe second time Ohio State has won three in a row since winningfour-consecutive games vs. Seton Hall, Radford, Tennessee State andHampton in last December. With three wins in the Big Tentournament, the Buckeyes have a combined overall record of 699-647against all the teams that make up the 2002-03 Ohio State schedule.Ohio State is 8-9 against the Big Ten in games played on neutralcourts. The Buckeyes are 1-1 vs. Illinois, which includes a loss atthe United Center during the 1999 Big Ten Tournament.
