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NCAA hopes still alive for Buckeyes after downing Hoosiers in B1G Tournament
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Kaleb Wesson’s return may have solidified Ohio State’s spot in the NCAA Tournament.
Wesson scored 17 points and grabbed 13 rebounds, leading the Buckeyes to a 79-75 victory over Indiana in the second round of the B1G Tournament. entering the game, Ohio State was considered to be one of the last teams in the field, and after the win it might’ve earned a spot.
The win didn’t come without some anxiety, though. The Buckeyes built a 20-point lead with less than eight minutes to play in the contest at 63-43. Thanks to a 13-0 run from Indiana, the final four minutes certainly provided some excitement.
Indiana got within two points with five seconds to play at 77-75, but C.J. Jackson was able to knock down a pair of free throws to seal the victory. Now, the Buckeyes will advance to play Michigan State on Friday.
Three other Buckeyes reached double figures in the win, as Keyshawn Woods scored a team-high 18 points and Jackson added 17. Andre Wesson also chipped in with 13 points.
Ohio State’s second-round matchup against Indiana was the first time Kaleb Wesson has played since serving a three-game suspension at the end of the regular season. The Buckeyes lost all three of those games.
The Buckeyes went 0-2 against Michigan State in the regular season, but will hope to add another signature win to their resume on Friday. While Ohio State is likely in the tournament come Selection Sunday, a win over the Spartans would make the Buckeyes a lot more comfortable entering the weekend.
Dustin grew up in the heart of Big Ten country and has been in sports media since 2010. He has been covering Big Ten football since 2014. You can follow him on Twitter: @SchutteCFB