INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana — Many teams are taking the court on Friday with hopes of bolstering their resume. Ohio State (20-8) is slightly different from most of those teams; they will secure a bid to the tournament. However, a recent losing skid has dropped them from the projected 1- seed line. Winning a conference tournament, especially the Big Ten, could revamp OSU’s chances to regain a top seed.
On Friday, it took all they had to get past Trevion Williams and Purdue (18-9). Williams’s 26 points were critical in erasing an 18-point OSU lead at the half. With 12 seconds left, he dropped in another bucket out of the post to send the game to overtime.
However, it was OSU’s shooters that made the difference in the extra frame; Seth Towns hit back-to-back jumpers, then Duane Washington Jr. cashed a three to pull ahead by 7 points. Washington Jr. would ice the game at the free-throw line to secure the 87-78 OSU win.
Washington Jr. led the team with 20 points while adding 5 rebounds and 3 assists. Also, EJ Liddell dropped in 17 points in his matchup with Williams. OSU had a major advantage at the free-throw line, knocking down 16 of 18. Purdue drew a bunch of fouls but was unable to convert at a high rate, shooting 15-27 FT.
Young has dominant first half, Williams key in the second
Initially, OSU seemed ready to take control of the game from start-to-finish. Kyle Young had a remarkable first half to help stretch the lead to 18. He hit 4 three-pointers in the first, where he scored all of his 18 points. On 7-10 shooting, he was OSU’s second-highest scorer for the game. Unfortunately, he took an elbow to the head and left the game early in the second half.
After halftime, Trevion Williams dominated. After being held to just 4 points in the 1st half, he racked up 18 points in the second to help mount the comeback. When Purdue needed a bucket, they turned to Williams, and he delivered time and again. In response, OSU attempted to use 1-on-1 matchups with Liddell. That resulted in Liddell fouling out and Williams feasting on his paint opportunities.
Jaden Ivey was also huge in the comeback effort. He finished the game with 19 points on 4 of 8 shooting from the three-point range. About 4 minutes into the second half, Ivey caught fire; on three straight possessions, he hit three straight three-pointers, trimming the lead to 10. On OSU’s last play of regulation, he came up with a clutch steal to force OT.
In OT, OSU pulled away as Williams got just a bit of rest. When the Towns jumper pushed the lead to 4, they turned to Williams’s backup, Zach Edey. When he missed down low, Washington Jr. quickly took advantage, pushing the lead to 7 with a three. Purdue had to force up contested threes down the stretch, which would not fall.
Up Next
Ohio State vs. Michigan, Saturday, March 13, Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, IN
