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Michigan beats Ohio State in Big Ten tilt

Feb 19, 2012 - 5:46 AM Ann Arbor, MI (Sports Network) - Trey Burke and No. 17 Michigan got their revenge.

Burke scored 17 points and the Wolverines avenged an earlier loss to their heated rival with a wire-to-wire 56-51 victory over No. 6 Ohio State on Saturday.

Tim Hardaway Jr. added 13 points, Jordan Morgan scored 11 with 11 rebounds and Michigan (20-7, 10-4 Big Ten) improved to 15-0 at home this season.

The Wolverines won their 16th straight game at Crisler Center and avenged a 15-point loss to Ohio State on January 29. At 10-4, they pulled even in the conference standings with the Buckeyes. No. 7 Michigan State is 10-3 and plays at Purdue on Sunday afternoon.

Deshaun Thomas filled the stat sheet for Ohio State (22-5, 10-4) with 25 points and 13 rebounds, both game highs, but the Buckeyes lost for the second time in their last three games.

"We gotta hit shots," said Ohio State forward Jared Sullinger, who scored 14. "If we hit shots, we could have won this game."

Indeed, the Wolverines led wire-to-wire but never by more than 10 points.

Michigan coach John Beilein talked about how tough the game was and how good both defenses played in a gritty conference tilt.

"That's why we're in the weight room. We didn't win some of those battles, but I think we competed in every one of those areas where their girth and their length is so good," said Beilein. "We made tough shots to win. Our locker room is very excited right now."

Hardaway knocked down a three-pointer that made it 42-32 with under 12 minutes left before Sullinger scored six straight to get Ohio State within four.

Later, Sullinger and Thomas both made a pair of free throws to cut the deficit to three points. Then, after Zack Novak buried a jumper, Sullinger scored at the other end to make it a three-point game again.

It went that way down the stretch. Burke's jumper made it a 54-49 game with 1:17 remaining, then Aaron Craft made a pair of free throws to cut it to three points again. But Burke's jumper with nine seconds on the clock left Ohio State without enough time and Craft and Sullinger both missed three-point tries at the other end as time expired.

"I'm just happy that we won and stuck together as a team down the stretch," said Burke. "It shows how much of a team we are."

Earlier, Michigan scored the first six points of the game to take the lead for good. The Wolverines carried a 25-20 lead into halftime after holding Ohio State to 10-of-26 shooting (38.5 percent), including 0-for-9 from three-point range.

Michigan shot worse in the half -- 37.5 percent -- but hit a couple of three- pointers. The Wolverines out-shot the Buckeyes for the game, 46.8 percent to 38.8.

Game Notes

Ohio State entered the game leading the country in wins against ranked teams with five...Sullinger had eight rebounds and Williams Buford pulled down six. Both passed 600 career rebounds (Sullinger has 606 and Buford 603).