Buford’s best boosts Bucks

Cleveland Plain Dealer

COLUMBUS

Ohio State needed more from William Buford. With the Buckeyes’ home winning streak on the line Tuesday night, he gave them more than enough.

Buford scored a career-high 29 points as the No. 3 Buckeyes struggled with Purdue the entire game before surviving with an 87-84 victory. The second half included five ties and 14 lead changes before Buford helped the Buckeyes (21-3, 9-2 Big Ten) get a bit of breathing room in the final four minutes, the senior smiling while holding his follow-through on jump shots as the Value City Arena crowd leapt to its feet.

The game was tied at 40 at the half after two smooth shooting performances, the teams combining to shoot 62 percent from the field and 67 percent from 3-point range in the first 20 minutes. D.J. Byrd had 17 for Purdue, one off his career-high, and Aaron Craft led the Buckeyes with 10, getting to double figures for just the fourth time in 15 games.

But Craft struggled defensively more than he has all season. Purdue point guards Kelsey Barlow and Lewis Jackson both proved tough matchups, and the Boilermakers burned the Buckeyes repeatedly with high screens, getting either open jumpers or easy drives to the basket.

It was one of the first games of his career where Craft had trouble on that end of the court, and he was forced to the bench for a stretch with four fouls with just under 10 minutes left. It was just one of the ways in which the Buckeyes, who have typically enjoyed 20-point wins at home this season, were tested.

Jared Sullinger went to the bench with four fouls with just under seven minutes remaining.