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ANN ARBOR, Michigan (Ticker) -- Three's company for Ohio State. Brian Brown and Boban Savovic each scored 19 points as the 17th-ranked Buckeyes earned a share of the Big Ten Conference title with an 84-75 victory over Michigan. Ohio State (20-7, 11-5 Big Ten) moved into a three-way tie for first place in the Big Ten with Wisconsin and Indiana. Illinois can join the trio Sunday with a victory at Minnesota. "These kids really cared about this," Ohio State coach Jim O'Brien said. "This was important to them. We have a Big Ten championship. It just so happens that about 20 other teams are sharing it with us." Brent Darby, a Michigan native, had 12 points in the first half as the Buckeyes built a 34-29 halftime lead. Michigan (10-17, 5-11) pulled into a 38-38 tie on a 3-pointer by freshman Dommanic Ingerson with just over 17 minutes remaining. Savovic responded with a 3-pointer and Michigan never got even the rest of the night. "We just seemed to be able to counter some plays that they made," O'Brien said. "Ingerson made a big three, then Boban came down on the other end and made a three himself." A 3-pointer from Sean Connolly and a basket by Brown extended the advantage to 52-43 with just under 14 minutes left. The Wolverines made another run to get within 58-53 after five straight points by Bernard Robinson Jr. Ohio State responded with eight straight points for a 66-53 cushion on a 3-pointer by Savovic with just under seven minutes left. Chris Young scored five straight points to pull the Wolverines within 70-64 with 3:40 remaining. Ohio State's lead was still six before freshman Terence Dials made two free throws for a 76-68 cushion with 1:44 remaining. Ingerson scored 21 points to lead Michigan, which may have achieved a moral victory. The Wolverines ended a streak of four losses by at least 20 points, the first time that had occurred in school history. "We had critical mistakes," Wolverines coach Tommy Amaker said. "We weren't able to find people in transition, we gave people open threes and we committed turnovers down the stretch." Darby finished with 17 points and Dials netted 11 for Ohio State, which had a sizable number of fans make the trip to Crisler Arena. The Buckeyes also posted their fourth straight 20-win season, matching the school record. Although some observers believe it is a down year for the Big Ten, O'Brien feels that all the teams at the top are deserving of reaching the NCAA Tournament. "I don't see how you don't put a Big Ten champion in the NCAAs," he said. "Even if it is a co- or tri- or quad- champion. We are still a very important league in the grand scheme of things." Robinson fouled out with 20 points and senior center Chris Young netted 17 in his final home game. Young kissed the 'M' symbol at center court after leaving the game and had tears in his eyes as he watched the final moments. Michigan is seeded ninth in the Big Ten tournament and will face No. 8 Iowa on Thursday. "We have still got more basketball to play," Amaker said. "When you get to tournament play, when it's one and done, crazy things can happen." . |
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