Buckeyes rally for 23rd win


February 4, 2011 at 12:00a.m.

Associated Press

COLUMBUS

It’s beginning to look more and more as if Ohio State isn’t a typical team and center Jared Sullinger isn’t a typical freshman.

Sullinger hammered away inside for 19 points and 15 rebounds and No. 1 Ohio State came back from a sluggish half to beat Michigan 62-53 on Thursday night, helping the Buckeyes open with 23 wins for the second time in school history.

“Sullinger is a freshman, but he’s a very unusual freshman,” Michigan coach John Beilein said.

Beilein then focused on one pivotal play. In the middle of a critical 13-5 second-half run, Ohio State’s Jon Diebler air-balled a 3 from the left corner. But Sullinger correctly positioned himself to catch the ball and put it back in.

“I turned around and said, ‘The last time I saw that, Blake Griffin did it,”’ Beilein said, referring to the former Oklahoma star now with the Los Angeles Clippers. “It’s incredible body control and hands. He’s hard to guard and you get in foul trouble.”

Fouls were a huge factor in the second meeting between the teams in 22 days.

Michigan led by six points early in the second half before Ohio State (23-0, 10-0 Big Ten) began looking to the 6-foot-9 Sullinger every time down the floor. As a result, he wore out defenders and was a huge reason why Michigan was called for 23 fouls to OSU’s 11.

The Wolverines shot just four free throws in the game; Sullinger shot 11 (making 5) by himself. The Buckeyes were 15 of 25.

“I kind of knew that the double team was coming baseline so I was going to explore and go to the middle as much as I can,” he said.

William Buford added 13 points — including two timely 3-pointers in the second-half run — as Ohio State extended its conference lead to three games.

It felt like a struggle for the first 39 minutes for the Buckeyes.

“Our guys did a very good job of maintaining composure when things didn’t go the way that we thought that maybe they were going to go,” coach Thad Matta said. “Obviously our offense wasn’t as effective as it needed to be. We didn’t make shots.”