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Ohio State easily handles Indiana

Feb 28, 2011 - 4:38 AM Columbus, OH (Sports Network) - Freshman Deshaun Thomas led the way with 22 points and William Buford finished with 15, as No. 2 seeded Ohio State handled Indiana, 82-61, in Big Ten action.

David Lighty and Jon Diebler each netted 11 points for Ohio State (27-2, 14-2 Big Ten), which set a school record with its 19th home victory this season. Both of OSU's losses have come on the road.

Dallas Lauderdale chipped in with eight points and six boards, while Aaron Craft had eight points and five assists for the Buckeyes, who have won two straight since dropping two of their previous three. Freshman sensation Jared Sullinger was limited to only five points and seven boards in 12 minutes. The forward went 0-for-2 from the field and 5-of-6 at the free-throw line.

"It felt great, every day in practice Coach Matta was telling me we need you, and after today I'm proud of myself and my teammates," Thomas said.

Verdell Jones III had a team-best 14 points for Indiana (12-17, 3-13), which has lost six in a row. Christian Watford ended with 12 points in defeat.

Ohio state dictated the pace in the first half despite playing without Sullinger for a good portion of the opening 20 minutes after the star freshman picked up two early fouls.

Tied at 8-8 nearly four minutes into the contest, Diebler's free throw finished off a string of eight straight to put the Buckeyes up 16-8 with 9:50 before the break.

After Derek Elston snapped the run with a jumper, Thomas carried OSU on his back for the next several minutes, draining a pair of free throws, then knocking down back-to-back threes to put his squad ahead 24-10.

After Thomas made a pair of layups, the hosts had a 30-13 advantage with 4:41 left and they would be in front 38-23 heading into the locker room.

Ohio State had a cake walk in the second half, as the Buckeyes never let the lead dip below double-figures.

"We had momentum in the first half until the fouls started piling up and they got to the foul line," Indiana head coach Tom Crean said. "You have to be clicking on the offensive and defensive end to beat a team like this. When they started to get momentum we couldn't get it back."

Game Notes

Despite the loss, Indiana still holds a 99-74 advantage in the all-time series against the Buckeyes...Ohio State made 49 percent from the field and 7-of-18 from three-point range...Indiana hit 38.5 percent of its shots and 6-of-21 from beyond the arc...Elston had six points and three rebounds before fouling out.