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01/27 20:58 CST Liddell's late FTs lift Ohio State over Penn State 83-79
Liddell's late FTs lift Ohio State over Penn State 83-79
By NICOLE KRAFT
Associated Press
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) --- E.J. Liddell scored 22 points, including the
tiebreaking free throws with 59.7 seconds left, and No. 13 Ohio State held off
Penn State 83-79 on Wednesday night.
The Buckeyes (13-4, 7-4 Big Ten) squandered a 12-point first-half lead but
rallied from a seven-point deficit in the second for their second consecutive
victory and fourth in five games.
Liddell hit four clutch free throws in the final minute, sealing it with two
from the line with a second to play. Zed Key went 5 for 5 from the field and
converted his only free throw to finish with 11 points for Ohio State.
Kyle Young also had a perfect shooting night for the Buckeyes, scoring 10
points on 3 for 3 from the field and the free throw line before fouling out
with 5:01 left.
Seth Lundy paced Penn State (5-7, 2-6) with 26 points.
Penn State, whose season has been peppered with COVID-19 related postponements
--- including this game, originally set for Jan. 6 --- dropped its fifth
straight road game. Rust showed through from the opening tip, as the Nittany
Lions had two airballs among their first nine shots.
But sloppy Ohio State play and scrappy defense helped Penn State grab the
momentum at the end of the first half, as Jamari Wheeler notched two steals
within the final 30 seconds, getting the Nittany Lions within four to end the
half down 43-39.
The Buckeyes committed 17 turnovers that led to 23 Penn State points.
Penn State hung tough throughout the second half, off the shooting of its lone
sophomore, Lundy, whose 26 points were his most ever in a Big Ten game. Izaiah
Brockington added 18 points and John Harrar had 15 points and 10 boards, his
eighth game with double-figure rebounds.
Top scorers were shut down at both ends of the court. Buckeyes leader Duane
Washington Jr., averaging 15.3 points, was held to just eight points on
2-for-11 shooting. Penn State's top scorer, Myreon Jones, who averages 15.9
points, was held to 10.
BIG PICTURE
Ohio State's early dominance dissipated with sloppy play and shutdown defense
by Penn State, but Liddell rallied the Buckeyes in the final minute for a tough
Big Ten win.
UP NEXT
Purdue hosts Wisconsin on Saturday.
Ohio State hosts Michigan State on Sunday.
___
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