Oden plays big as Bucks drop Northwestern

The freshman center had a season-high 17 rebounds in the 59-50 victory.
EVANSTON, Ill. (AP) -- Freshman Greg Oden had 17 points and a season-high 17 rebounds, and No. 5 Ohio State hung on to beat Northwestern 59-50 on Wednesday night.
Oden scored 10 points over the final 10:19, after Northwestern's Tim Doyle hit back-to-back baskets to pull the Wildcats within 39-38. Oden's 17 boards were one more than his previous high, and the Buckeyes outrebounded Northwestern 39-19.
Ivan Harris scored 14 of his 18 points in the first half when Ohio State struggled to a 27-24 lead, and delivered a key basket late in the game.
Harris swooped in to rebound Mike Conley's miss and scored as he hit the floor to make it 55-48 with about 2 minutes left. And Ohio State (17-3, 5-1 Big Ten) hung on for its fourth straight win.
Doyle scored 15 points and Sterling Williams added 11 for Northwestern (11-9, 1-6), which had its sixth lost in seven games.
Keeping close
Ohio State couldn't break away after beating Northwestern by 32 in Columbus a week earlier.
The Buckeyes built a 36-26 in the opening minutes of the second half as Jamar Butler, Conley and Ron Lewis hit 3-pointers, but the Wildcats hung in.
Northwestern's Kevin Coble hit a 3-pointer with about 5:30 left to make it 49-46 and had a potential tying 3 rim out on the next possession. With the Buckeyes ahead by five, Coble leaned in for a hook that made it 51-48 with about 3:40 left. Oden rebounded Lewis' missed 3-pointer to make it a five-point game.
Harris carried the Buckeyes in the first half, going 5-of-6 from the field while hitting two of three 3-pointers.
Back home for the first time since a six-point loss to Wisconsin on Jan. 13, Northwestern grabbed a 20-11 lead early on, with Sterling Williams and Vince Scott hitting two 3-pointers apiece and Craig Moore converting one.
Harris started a 12-point run by Ohio State with a turnaround jumper, and hit a 3-pointer that pulled the Buckeyes within 20-18. Oden tied it with dunk and hit the first of two free throws to put them ahead 21-20 with 2:15 left in the half.
Harris got the rebound and scored to make it a three-point game.
Northwestern regained the lead on back-to-back baskets by Doyle, but a four-point play put the Buckeyes back on top with 42 seconds left in the half. As Conley hit a jumper, Harris was fouled away from the ball and converted both free throws to give Ohio State a 27-24 halftime lead.
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