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Ohio State tops Gophers to stay unbeaten

Feb 6, 2011 - 10:31 PM Minneapolis, MN (Sports Network) - Jared Sullinger collected 18 points and 13 rebounds to power top-ranked Ohio State to an 82-69 win over 18th-ranked Minnesota at Williams Arena.

David Lighty provided 19 points and William Buford chipped in 15 -- both also had four assists -- as all five starters scored in double figures for the Buckeyes (24-0, 11-0 Big Ten), who have won 28 regular season games dating back to last year.

"We told our guys coming in that we had to play hard and it was about matching their energy and intensity," Ohio State head coach Thad Matta said. "We did a good job moving the ball around and playing unselfish basketball. That was great for us."

Blake Hoffarber totaled 16 points and five rebounds, while Ralph Sampson III and Chip Armelin supplied 14 points for the Golden Gophers (16-7, 5-6), who have dropped three in a row after putting together a four-game win streak.

"We were pretty much manhandled in the second half," said Minnesota head coach Tubby Smith. "Ohio State is very deserving of their No. 1 ranking. I think they played extremely well. They are one of the best defensive teams in the country."

Hoffarber buried a triple to trim the Ohio State lead to 18-16 before the visitors ran off the next ten points, including threes from Buford and Lighty, to push the lead to 28-16 with 8 1/2 minutes left before the break.

Sampson scored 12 of the Gophers last 14 points from there but the hosts still trailed 38-30 at the intermission.

Dallas Lauderdale had three dunks during an 10-2 Ohio State spurt that pushed the lead to 50-37 with 14 1/2 minutes to play.

A Sullinger layup eight minutes later made it 64-46 and the Buckeyes were not threatened the rest of the way en route to an 12th straight conference road victory.

Game Notes

Ohio State has also won its last 18 conference games overall...The 24-0 start is the second best in school history behind only the 27-0 start to the 1960-61 campaign...The 24 game-win streak is also the second longest overall in school history to a 32-gamer over the final five contests of the 1959-60 and first 27 the following year...Sullinger posted his 11th double-double of season but hit only 8-of-20 shots...Ohio State shot only 45 percent from the field and made just 10-of-20 from the foul line...The Buckeyes did convert 19 turnovers into 20 points while turning it over only eight times themselves...Sampson drained 6-of-10 from the floor...He and Armelin, along with Austin Hollins, finished with four rebounds...Trevor Mbakwe added eight points and seven caroms in the loss, the Gophers fifth in the last six meetings with Ohio State.