The Buckeyes came up with a huge win at Miami tonight to put the Big Ten up 2-1 in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge. Jon Diebler lead the way for OSU with 20 points, and Evan Turner added 19, as the two super sophomores carried a struggling Ohio State offense in the second half. BJ Mullens’ stat line wasn’t too impressive (5 points 9 rebounds), but the heralded freshman played his best game of the season and was the post presence everyone was expecting this year. Lance Hurdle lead the Hurricanes with 14 points in the losing effort. Miami played most of the game without 1st team All-ACC star guard Jack McClinton, who was ejected early in the first half for intentionally slapping Anthony Crater. McClinton’s absence showed as Miami struggled shooting the ball in the second half without their best shooter who was 4-4 from 3-point range with 12 points before his ejection. This win is a big one for Ohio State’s tournament resume, as the Hurricanes were 4-1 and ranked #22 in the country. Ohio State has two tough games in a row, first traveling to Indianapolis’s Lucas Oil Stadium (Saturday, 4 p.m.) and then coming home against Butler on December 13th. Click the link below to read the live game blog of tonight’s game.

Second Half

  • 8:04 Here we go, let’s see if we can turn this around….
  • 8:11-Nice start to the half…caught the Canes sleeping for a Dallas dunk…of course they miss a 3, get a rebound, and slam it down for the “and-1″ on the ensuing posession…that’s the 3rd on Dallas
  • 8:14-silky smooth jumper from Turner as we trail 38-26….keep giving the ball to ET
  • 8:15-Lavin and O’Brien are bored with this game and are discussing the slap again as Lighty cuts the deficit to 10 and now the press forces Miami to call their first time out of the half….momentum has swung a bit and this is the Bucks’ chance to get back into this one
  • 8:19-Out of the time out we get a steal and Turner hits a nice jumper…and BJ blocks it on the other end….DIEBLER FOR THREE and we have a 5 point game!!! This looks like a new team….
  • 8:20- another steal and Diebler is feeling it…he misses, but is fouled and will go to the line for 3….could be our best free throw shooter and we can cut the lead to 2 points if he hits them all…under 16:00 time-out….
  • 8:23- Illinois up 8 on Clemson…is this the Big Ten’s year to win the Challenge?
  • 8:24-Diebler makes 2 of 3 and we trail by 3…38-35
  • 8:25-BJ Mullens may not be doing much on offense, but he has shown that he can rebound…goal tending on Miami and we trail 38-37…..
  • 8:29-WOW!…Miami hits a looooooooooooong bank three to put them up 7 as the shot clock expires….momentum to the Canes as Mullens misses and Hurdle takes it coast to coast for the bucket and and-1…down 48-40 and this game is slipping away
  • 8:30-Just as I say that Diebler comes back and hits another 3…this Hurdle guy is killing us as he hits a jumper and we’re down 7 again…and DIEBLER AGAIN FOR 3!…50-46 Canes…..Bucks get the ball back and Turner misses a three…Mullens tries to throw down the rebound in one motion, but it clangs out…I like the effort by the frosh big man. This is his best game by far, and more what we expected. Maybe he read this blog at half….
  • 8:36-After 2 Turner free throws, Miami turns the ball over….chance to tie or take the lead here…we can’t blow this opportunity…nice dish by Lighty to Mullens who gets fouled….misses the first-we needed that…..makes the second as we’re down one
  • 8:39- with 9:00 ledt we trail 54-49…Mullens is out and McGowan is taking advantage with the last 4 Miami points…..Turner for 3 and we trail 54-52 with 8:40 left in the half
  • 8:41-Wow a Turner steal and dish to a wide open Diebler who tries to do everything at once an misses a reverse…the Canes give it back and Turner ties it….we have the ball back again and Simmons hits a 3 to put us up 57-54….looks like the tables have turned…GO BUCKS
  • 8:44- LAUDERDALE with a huge block and Simmons takes it in transition for a lay-up to put us up 61-56….another offensive board for the Canes to give themselves a second chance (AGAIN) and cut the lead to 61-58
  • 8:47-Wow…Evan Turner steals and a wide-open 360 dunk….but of course Lauderdale picks up his 4th foul and the Canes convert the shot for another And-1…this is the Jon Diebler we’ve all been waiting for-huge 3 to put us up 66-61
  • 8:50- This team has a new face to it….everyone chipping in on offense, following the lead of Diebler and Turner…up 68-63 with 2 minutes left…time out Bucks with 1:35 left as we lead 68-65…Mullens coming in for Dallas who has 4 fouls….we need BJ to step up on the boards-they are killing us and getting all their points off second chances
  • 8:53-Mullens with a strong move to the hoop and fouled-he’ll shoot two when we come back from the under 4:00 break….(8:55) Mullens misses the first and NEEDS this second free-throw….second shot up and he misse…that’s awful….luckily Miami misses the ensuing three and we get the ball back after giving up yet another second chance…UM sure missing McClinton
  • 8:57- 33.6 seconds left and Turner’s little leaner goes in and out…foul send UM to line where they hit the first and the second….OSU needs to hit free throws down the stretch…the shot clock will be turned off but our FT struggles may come back to haunt us here
  • 9:00-30.2 seconds left-Turner to the line-we need both of these to go back up 3 points and make sure this game AT WORST is tied, not won on a UM three…Turner makes the first and the Bucks lead 69-67…the second shot up is….good as well and we lead 70-67
  • 9:01- I can’t believe my eyes….OSU pressure causes a Miami turnover on their side of the court…Bucks need to in-bound the ball and just hit 1 free throw to wrap this up…this could be a huge win for this team going into the ND game Saturday at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis
  • 9:03-We’ll keep it here for the rest of the way…we get the ball in and Turner is fouled again…I guess Thad likes his clutch shooting…he makes the first and we’re up 71-67-that should do it….the second shot doesn’t go and Miami misses a 3, but a dumb foul by Lauderdale with 6.2 seconds left to put Asbury on the line…Asbury makes 1 of 2 and we’re up 71-68 with 6.2 seconds remaining…Thad calls a time-out and now anything but a turnover should end it….Simmons gets the ball and is fouled with 5.7 remaining-while it doesn’t seem it Simmons is facing a tough shot and makes it despite the free throw being ugly…Bucks up 73-68 after both are good and the BUCKEYES WIN!!!!!! After two straight ACC-Big Ten losses to UNC, the Bucks redeem themselves in Coral Gables….a HUGE win for the tournament resume

 

First Half

 

  • 7: 22 p.m.-How about that cheap shot by McClinton? Thought it would spur the Bucks especially after the huge Diebler 3 pointer, but Miami seems to be the team rising up
  • 7:33- This team just does not have a go-to-guy on the offensive end of the floor. Until someone steps up we are in for a long game tonight.
  • 7:36- Big 3-pointer by Lighty…….of course Miami answers and goes to the charity stripe to make both
  • 7:38-BJ Mullens could possibly be the most overrated recruit of all time-he doesn’t rebound, play defense, and worst of all has no offensive skill set…..a lack of heart from all Buckeye players in the early going
  • 7:40-trying to find something to be positive about, BJ finally grabs an offensive board! These refs are all over this game, calling every little thing they can. I can’t be as upset as Miami fans with the zebras, but jeez.
  • 7:42-How many three pointers does it take to miss to get the point that the ball should go inside? As I say that a nice 14 footer by Mullens….maybe this guy is turning things around before our eyes?
  • 7:43- well, the Buckeyes just gave away another rebound and second chance to Miami. If I had a dime for every time that happened tonight…..
  • 7:46- stupid foul by Kyle Madsen. Way to send them to the line by blatantly pushing your opponent in the back as he’s receiving a pass
  • 7:47- With Evan Turner out this offense is lost. The sophomore has two fouls and David Lighty is joining him. We’re going to need some Diebler/Buford power to win this one. Unless some how BJ or Dallas can point some points on the board…..nah what am I thinking?
  • 7:49- I am getting sick to my stomach. BJ Mullens throws the ball right into James Dews hand and he hits an easy jumper over Lighty. Luckily it was an offensive foul after the release so Lighty goes to the line…..and actually hits the first….but of course misses the second
  • 7:51-I never thought I’d say this but I’d rather have Kosta Koufos back for another year than see Mullens play another minute for OSU
  • 7:53-It took Steve Lavin only 19 minutes to realize that OSU has no offensive threat that is reliable…enough said Steve. We trail by 14 points with just a minute left in the first half AND THEY DON’T EVEN HAVE THEIR BEST PLAYER MCCLINTON!
  • Well down 14 going into the half by a score of 36-22…..We look miserable right now on both sides of the floor and have multiple players in foul trouble. The only way to get into this game is to play BJ and Dallas together. While neither is a great offensive threat, The U is out rebounding us and scoring a ton in the paint.
  • Digger and Jay Bilas talking about the lack of leadership and the missing of 3-pointers in this one….is the problem obvious to everyone except the Buckeyes?
  • Half-time leaders: Points: Diebler-6/McClinton-12; Rebounds: Mullens-6/McGowan-10; Assists: Lighty-2/Collins and Hurdle-2; Players with 2 fouls: Madsen, Turner, Buford, Lauderdale (enough said)/Hurdle, Dews, Jones (3)
  • Team Stats: Shooting: OSU-8-29 (27.6%)/Miami-12-30 (40%);3-point Shooting: OSU-3-16 (18.8%)/ Miami-5-12 (41.7%); Rebounds: OSU-17 (7 off.)/ Miami-23 (7 off.); Assists: OSU-8/Miami-6; Free Throws: OSU-3-7 (42.9%)/Miami-7-14 (50%)