The drought has come to a merciful finish for Ohio State.
The Buckeyes snapped their five-game dropping streak Saturday with a resurgent efficiency that led to a 93-77 win over Iowa at house. The Hawkeyes had been using the Massive Ten’s second-longest profitable streak (4 video games) into the weekend. It was Ohio State’s first win since New Yr’s Day.
| Workforce | 1 | 2 | FINAL |
|---|---|---|---|
| OHIO STATE | 37 | 56 | 93 |
| IOWA | 35 | 42 | 77 |
Ohio State mounted a double-digit lead within the first half, and although Iowa made up floor earlier than halftime, the Buckeyes constructed one other vital edge early within the second half. Isaac Likekele was essential to the improved effort for the Buckeyes, because the Oklahoma State switch had a season-best scoring efficiency as an X-factor within the victory.
Likekekle completed with 18 factors and Brice Sensabaugh led the way in which for Ohio State with a career-high 27. After taking pictures underneath 40% from the ground in every of their previous three video games, the Buckeyes hit properly over 50% of their photographs in opposition to the Hawkeyes.
Iowa entered the sport with the highest-scoring offense within the Massive Ten, however couldn’t overwhelm Ohio State on a day when its personal offense acquired again in a groove.
First Half
The sport started with six mixed turnovers for each side earlier than both staff hit a shot. Ohio State broke the ice, however Iowa rattled off eight straight factors after that because the Buckeyes missed 5 of their first six photographs.
Isaac Likekele’s first 3-point make of the season tied issues up 13-all on the 12:19 mark, and 16 seconds later, the Buckeyes started a 15-2 run to take a double-digit lead across the halfway level of the primary half. Ohio State scored the primary 12 of these factors with out a solution from the Hawkeyes, and the Buckeyes knocked down three 3-pointers as a part of the stretch.
Ohio State led by as many as 11 factors within the interval, however Iowa began chipping away on the Buckeye lead immediately. The Hawkeyes outscored Ohio State 20-12 within the closing 8:48, though each groups closed the half out with scoring droughts that lasted longer than three minutes.
The Buckeyes took a 37-35 result in halftime regardless of lacking six of their closing seven photographs. Ohio State hit 46.7% of its area targets whereas the Hawkeyes made simply 41.4% of their makes an attempt, though Iowa had the benefit in rebounding (19-15), factors within the paint (16-14) and free-throw makes an attempt (7-4).
Brice Sensabaugh had a double-digit scoring whole earlier than the tip of the primary half and Likekele could have had his greatest offensive half of the season, including seven factors as a nice shock for the Buckeyes.
Second Half
Iowa hit two of the primary three photographs of the interval, however it was all Ohio State after that, because the Buckeyes used a 9-0 run to take a 10-point lead by the 16:20 mark. Sensabaugh scored six of Ohio State’s first 12 factors to open the half.
| OHIO STATE | STAT | IOWA |
|---|---|---|
| 93 | POINTS | 77 |
| 36-64 (56.3%) | FGM-FGA (PCT.) | 27-60 (45.0%) |
| 8-16 (50%) | 3PM-3PA (PCT.) | 11-24 (45.8%) |
| 13-17 (76.5%) | FTM-FTA (PCT.) | 12-14 (85.7%) |
| 11 | TURNOVERS | 17 |
| 36 | TOTAL REBOUNDS | 29 |
| 12 | OFFENSIVE REBOUNDS | 10 |
| 24 | DEFENSIVE REBOUNDS | 19 |
| 28 | BENCH POINTS | 14 |
| 3 | BLOCKS | 1 |
| 7 | STEALS | 6 |
| 15 | ASSISTS | 15 |
The Hawkeyes knocked down three 3-pointers in a two-minute span to attempt to minimize into the deficit, however Ohio State had a solution after each Iowa make. Iowa really hit 5 of its seven shot makes an attempt from 15:29 to 11:36. Each step of the way in which, although, the Buckeyes simply saved on scoring proper together with their opponent.
Likekele didn’t decelerate in any respect on offense within the second half. When he wasn’t scoring, Likekele racked up boards and assists, dishing to Roddy Gayle for a two-handed dunk on a no-look cross that saved Ohio State up 10 with the clock ticking underneath the eight-minute mark.
Lower than a minute later, Sensabaugh drained a 3 from the highest of the arc to dig the outlet even deeper for the Hawkeyes. Zed Key made back-to-back photographs within the subsequent 76 seconds to place Ohio State up 15.
Kris Murray topped the 20-point threshold for the sport and scored double-digits within the second half alone, however it wasn’t sufficient to deliver the Hawkeyes again as Ohio State continued to drag away late.
By sport’s finish, 5 Buckeyes had been double-digit scorers. Justice Sueing (10) hit that mark for the primary time in three video games after coming off the bench for the primary time this season whereas Key (11) and Sean McNeil (10) additionally joined Sensabaugh and Likekele in double figures.
Sport Notes
- McNeil was listed as a game-time resolution forward of tip-off as a consequence of a dental emergency, however wound up getting into the sport on the 14:34 mark and performed 24 minutes.
- Each McNeil and Justice Sueing began the sport on the bench for the primary time this season for Ohio State. The Buckeyes used a first-time beginning lineup with Bruce Thornton, Roddy Gayle, Isaac Likekele, Brice Sensabaugh and Zed Key all getting the nod. It was the primary begin of Gayle’s profession.
- Ohio State misplaced its earlier two matchups with Iowa, together with final season’s 75-62 Hawkeye win on the Schott on Feb. 19, 2022.
- Likekele, who completed with a season-high level whole, hadn’t scored greater than 9 factors as a Buckeye earlier than Saturday.
- Key wanted assist getting off the ground with 21.5 seconds remaining after happening clutching his knee late within the sport.
