Michigan 73, No. 15 Ohio State 64: Buckeyes Drop Second Straight

Read more at our Ohio State blog, The Buckeye Battle Cry, and our Michigan blog, Maize N Brew.

January 3, 2010 - Ann Arbor, MI (Sports Network) - DeShawn Sims scored 28 points on 13-of-18 shooting as the Michigan Wolverines dumped 15th-ranked Ohio State in a 73-64 triumph at Crisler Arena.

Manny Harris posted 24 points, seven rebounds, five assists and three steals for the Wolverines (7-6, 1-1 Big Ten), who had dropped two of three coming off Thursday’s loss to Indiana in their Big Ten opener.

Jon Diebler had 17 points on 5-of-11 three-point shooting and William Buford added 16 and 13 rebounds for the Buckeyes (10-4, 0-2), who were beaten soundly by Wisconsin on New Year’s Eve to open Big Ten play.

David Lighty contributed 13 points, seven boards and six assists in defeat.

OSU shot only 36.9 percent from the floor and chucked up 32 three-point attempts with only 10 finding their mark. Michigan hit on 55.8 percent of its shots from the field.

Entering the second half with a slim two-point deficit, Ohio State cut it to one on a Diebler three and took the lead, 37-36, on Dallas Lauderdale’s jumper less than four minutes in.

The lead began to trade hands as a pair of Harris three-pointers sandwiched around a P.J. Hill bucket had the hosts up 44-41. Sims added a basket to get the lead to five and a Darius Morris jumper with 10 1/2 minutes left saw the margin grow to 52-44.

The Buckeyes scored the next eight points capped by consecutive Buford three- pointers to tie the game at 52 with 8:41 remaining. Hill’s three-ball moments later had the visitors still nursing a one-point lead, but Michigan rattled off the next 11 points with Sims’ deuce near the three-minute mark making it a 65-55 affair.

A pair of Lauderdale jumpers cut the lead to eight with 1:42 showing on the clock and Michigan turned to the free throw line to seal it. However, a 4-of-9 showing helped allow Ohio State life.

Lighty knocked down a three with 34 ticks to go but the Buckeyes missed four threes and a short jumper inside the final minute to seal their own fate.

Michigan started strong and held the lead from the outset until a Diebler three-pointer tied the game at 17 midway through. The Wolverines quickly moved back in front, though, and were ahead 27-22 after a Sims layup with 5:22 left.

A three-point play by Jeremie Simmons a little more than a minute later tied it at 27. Michigan got consecutive buckets from Sims and Harris to go back in front but the back-and-forth continued as Lighty scored five straight points to give OSU a 32-31 lead.

Harris completed a three-point play just before the break to push the hosts ahead by two, 34-32.

The Buckeyes had won nine of the last 10 meetings, including a pair of wins over Michigan last season...This was Michigan’s first win over a ranked OSU team in 11 years...The Buckeyes have lost each of their three true road games this season...The Wolverines moved to 6-1 at home...Stu Douglass scored nine points for Michigan...Lauderdale had eight points and eight boards for the Buckeyes.