It sure didn’t look good after the first half in the Schott, but Ohio State got it all together, buckled down on defense, and outscored the Illini by fifteen points in the second half to put the game away, ultimately winning 71-63.
The shooting was a little better in the second twenty minutes for the Buckeyes, but more than anything, they started to clamp down on an Illini squad that shot over 50 percent in the first half. That percentage fell to 43.6 percent for the game thanks to a better defensive effort from OSU when it came out of the locker room.
This game may have been won on defense, but it got great offensive production from Kaleb Wesson (19 points), and E.J. Liddell who had a career night with a double-double of seventeen points and eleven rebounds.
His maturation has been a key while Kyle Young has been sidelined with a high ankle sprain.
With the victory, Ohio State improves its record to 21-9 overall, and 11-8 in the Big Ten. It is now assured of a winning conference record after being 2-6 at one point. It has now won nine of its last eleven in the best league in the country.
Where have all those knee-jerk fans calling for Chris Holtmann’s job gone as of late?
Maybe most importantly, the Buckeyes move another spot higher in the seeding line of the Big Ten Tournament and might be getting into a spot where they can play their way into a top-four seed in the NCAA Tournament. A lot would have to still happen for that to occur, but it’s a far cry from close to bubble territory back in early February.
All of that comes later. For now, everyone should enjoy this win against a very good Illinois team and get ready to take on a Michigan State team Sunday that seems to be putting it all together.
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