Michigan beats OSU to end lengthy drought in Columbus

Associated Press

COLUMBUS

Nik Stauskas scored 15 points and Derrick Walton III added 13, including three critical free throws with 1:55 left, to power No. 15 Michigan to a 70-60 victory over No. 22 Ohio State on Tuesday night.

The victory ended a nine-game losing skid over the last 11 years in Columbus for the Wolverines (18-6, 10-2 Big Ten), who came into the game tied for the top spot in the conference with Michigan State.

Walton added 10 rebounds and six assists. Zak Irvin chipped in with 10 points.

LaQuinton Ross had 24 points and Lenzelle Smith Jr. 13 for Ohio State (19-6, 6-6), which had a three-game winning streak snapped. The Buckeyes hadn’t lost to their archrivals on their home court since a 61-50 setback on Jan. 15, 2003.

The Wolverines were coming off an 85-67 loss at No. 17 Iowa on Saturday and had played three road games in 10 days and five games total over the last 13.

The loss all but eliminated the Buckeyes, who came in tied for fourth, from the Big Ten race. They won their first 15 games of the season to get to No. 3 in the nation, then lost four in a row before splitting the next two. Coming off two huge road wins, winning at No. 14 Wisconsin 59-58 on Feb. 1 and at No. 17 Iowa 76-69 on Feb. 4, they beat Purdue at home 67-49 on Saturday night.

Stauskas tossed in a long 3-pointer to start the second half to draw the Wolverines within a point, but the Buckeyes responded with a 7-0 run — four points from Ross and a 3 by Smith.

That eight-point lead disappeared, however, when Michigan scored on four straight possessions.