A suffocating second-half defensive effort lifted No. 7 Ohio State over Wyoming on Monday, 65-50, in Columbus.
Ohio State vs. Wyoming final score: Buckeye defense stifles Cowboys in 65-50 win
Mired in a close one early, Ohio State clamped down on defense and allowed only four field goals in the final 20 minutes.
Lenzelle Smith Jr. had 20 points on 5-for-8 shooting from three to lead the Buckeyes, but it was the Buckeyes’ play on the other end of the court that pushed them to victory. Ohio State allowed just four field goals in the second half -- none in the final 10 minutes -- and gave up just 16 points after leading by only four at halftime.
Wyoming only turned the ball over eight times, but the Cowboys shot 14 percent from beyond the arc and were outrebounded 42-29. Larry Nance Jr. had 17 points and 12 rebounds as the only Cowboy in double figures.
The Cowboys led by four at 43-39 six minutes into the second half when Ohio State took control. Amir Williams grabbed an offensive rebound and finished, then Aaron Craft dropped in a pair of layups to put the Buckeyes ahead, all in the span of 50 seconds.
The only Wyoming field goal the rest of the way came on a Derek Cooke Jr. layup at the 10:02 mark. Ohio State outscored Wyoming 17-3 the rest of the way.


















