Michigan is ranked second in the polls. They came into Value Center Arena on Super Bowl Sunday and routed rival Ohio State. The final score was 82-61. Ohio State never led in the basketball game with rival Michigan. The Buckeyes, in particular, had no answer for Michigan big man Aday Mara. He scored a career high of 24 points in the victory, and two of his teammates had double-doubles.
Michigan and Ohio State Scoring Summary
Ohio State stayed close to Michigan in the first half, but the Wolverines pulled ahead in the second half as their superior talent took over. Ohio State is now 15-8 overall and 7-6 in the Big Ten Conference. Michigan improved to 22-1 and 12-1 in the Big Ten Conference. Ohio State may now need to win the conference tournament to secure an NCAA Tournament berth.
Bruce Thornton led the Buckeyes with 16 points. He needs only 168 points to take over as the all-time leading scorer for Ohio State. Cristoph Tilly added 10 points for Ohio State. However, John Mobley Jr. was shut down for Ohio State. He had only 4 points. However, Devin Royal of Ohio State scored 15 points.
The game was a completely different story for Michigan. Mara led all scorers in the game with 24 points. Yaxel Lendeborg had 14 points and 14 rebounds. Joining him in double-double territory was Morez Johnson Jr., who had 11 points and 12 rebounds.
The domination was near total. Michigan out-rebounded Ohio State 44-31 in the game. The Wolverines also made 10 three-pointers, including nine in the first half. Michigan looked every bit like one of the best basketball teams in the nation, and Ohio State looked like a team destined for the National Invitational Tournament.
Player Of the Game
The player of the game was Mara. He had 24 points in the game, and Ohio State had no answer for him. He added 6 rebounds. The Buckeyes had no answer for him.
Turning Point
The turning point of the game was the start of the second half. Even though Ohio State trailed in the first half, the Buckeyes kept it close. It was a different story in the second half. Michigan outscored Ohio State 38-27 in the second half.
Frequently Asked Questions
The player of the game was Mara. He scored 24 points in the win. The turning point of the game was the start of the second half, when the Wolverines pulled away. Ohio State hosts USC on Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. Michigan plays at Northwestern on Wednesday at 8:30 p.m.
Parting Shots
Ohio State has only eight regular-season games remaining. There are even fewer opportunities to get impressive wins. The Buckeyes blew an opportunity in this game, failing to defend their home court against rival Michigan. The seat for Ohio State Head Coach John Diebler grows hotter and hotter, and if Ohio State fails to make the NCAA Tournament this season, the pressure on him will grow even more.
