LAS VEGAS _ Down a long, nondescript hallway awaited a hostile crowd. No. 5 Ohio State was keeping loose as UCLA and North Carolina played out the string of their game at T-Mobile Arena, and a date with No. 6 Kentucky in the nightcap of the doubleheader loomed as the Buckeyes awaited their entrance.
Some stood against the concrete walls. Some paced. And as usual, Duane Washington Jr. was talking.
"What a time to be a Buckeye!" he yelled at his teammates. "Soak it all in. Count your blessings."
They did. 'Tis the season, after all.
In their final game before everyone headed home to celebrate Christmas, the Buckeyes led throughout and fended off the Wildcats with a 71-65 win in the CBSSports Classic.
In a highly competitive game with highlights at both ends, the Buckeyes (11-1) had more of them. There was Andre Wesson, chasing down a Kentucky player for a chase-down block. CJ Walker took a charge, one of three by the Buckeyes, against another Kentucky player in a full sprint in transition. Throughout, there was freshman D.J. Carton, hitting a step-back 3 and then throwing a no-look bounce pass through three defenders for a Kyle Young dunk.
The Buckeyes took the lead with 8:30 remaining in the first half on an athletic drive and finish from Carton and would not trail again.
The Wildcats (8-3) countered heavily with grad transfer Nate Sestina, who played against the Buckeyes last season for Bucknell. Slowed by an injury this season, the forward entered the evening 3 for 13 from 3 on a team that was collectively shooting 27.5% from deep and finished 5 of 8 from 3 for a game-high 17 points.
Carton's floater with 1:17 left pushed the Ohio State lead to a game-high seven points and sent the Kentucky fans to the exits when the Wildcats called timeout. Walking back upcourt, Carton balled his fists and screamed, "Let's go!" He finished with a team-high 13 points on 5-of-6 shooting and added five rebounds.
The win gives Ohio State a pair of wins away from home against top-10 teams in the same season for the first time since the 2012-13 season. That year, the Buckeyes beat No. 2 Indiana on the road and No. 8 Michigan State in the Big Ten tournament.
On a neutral court but in front of a crowd that also featured major league baseball star Bryce Harper wearing Buckeyes gear and sitting courtside, Ohio State came out aggressive early. Before the first media timeout, the Buckeyes had already drawn six fouls and would spend the final 16:35 of the half in the bonus.
The Buckeyes led 37-36 at the break despite committing nine turnovers thanks in large part to their edge at the free-throw line. Ohio State was 10 for 12 from the line while Kentucky had only taken four attempts. Kyle Young had 10 points at the break, while both Ashton Hagans and Sestina had 11 for the Wildcats.
Kentucky has three losses in its first 11 games for the first time since it started the 2013-14 season with an 8-3 record.
