There’s no questioning Ohio State’s effort from Sunday afternoon, as the Buckeyes won their first Big Ten game of the season, defeating Michigan State 72-67.
A combination of home cooking after two tough road losses, playing against a less formidable opponent than the last three games, and just an all-out energetic performance helped Ohio State snap its four-game skid.
All of the starters chipped in for the Buckeyes in this one.
JaQuan Lyle led the way, scoring a team-high 22 points and passing for six assists.
Jae’Sean Tate put up 12 points and swiped three steals.
Marc Loving added 12 points and six rebounds.
Trevor Thompson came through with 10 points, eight boards, and two blocks.
Kam Williams scored 10 points, including three clutch free throws in the final two minutes.
The Spartans (12-7, 4-2) were led by 24 points from Miles Bridges.
Obviously this win was much-needed for Ohio State (11-7, 1-4), but it was especially encouraging to see the Buckeyes play with energy and fight, after an embarrassing loss at Wisconsin, in which the team looked lethargic.
The game marked the third time Lyle has scored 20 or more in a game this season and was another reminder that when he is on his A-game, it makes the Buckeyes look like a different team altogether.
The game does nothing to erase the 0 and 4 start, which was the worst in school history since 1998, but it could change momentum and should give the Buckeyes some confidence heading into their next game at Nebraska (9-8, 3-2) on Wednesday night.
The game tips off at 9 pm ET on Big Ten Network.
Closing Thoughts
Both of Ohio State’s home games against Big Ten opponents have come down to the wire, as the Buckeyes blew a double-digit lead against Purdue and lost in the closing seconds.
Home court advantage could be a big help to these Buckeyes, who are now 10-3 at home, but 1-3 on the road and lost a game on a neutral floor against UCLA.
It also doesn’t help that some of their toughest games thus far (UCLA, Virginia, Wisconsin, Minnesota) have come away from Columbus.
When Lyle leads the way offensively, the team looks more crisp.
As great as Tate has been over the years, he’s not ideally the type of player who should be leading a team in scoring on a nightly basis.
Tate is a great leader, rebounder and worker, but Lyle has a better chance to erupt for these kinds of games, when his raw talent is on display.
Going forward, if Lyle can produce more games like this, obviously the Buckeyes have a better chance at winning with regularity, but it also puts Tate in a role that might be better suited for his skillset.
It was Tate’s first win over Michigan State in his three-year career and a well-deserved victory for a hard-working guy who has been steady through the ups and downs of Buckeye basketball.
Recent Comments