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Diebler leads Buckeyes' rout of Penn State

Mar 2, 2011 - 6:59 AM University Park, PA (Sports Network) - Jon Diebler made a school-record 10 three-pointers en route to a career-high 30 points, as top-ranked Ohio State shot down Penn State, 82-61, at the Bryce Jordan Center.

William Buford supplied 21 points while Jared Sullinger chipped in 10 points and 10 boards for the Buckeyes (28-2, 15-2 Big Ten), who clinched at least a share of the Big Ten regular season title. They have won three in a row since suffering a 13-point loss to Purdue on February 20.

Talor Battle provided 18 points and five rebounds, and David Jackson scored 12 for the Nittany Lions (15-13, 8-9), who have lost 15 straight encounters with the Buckeyes.

Diebler drained five from beyond the arc to help the Buckeyes build a 33-18 advantage at the break. Penn State made only 6-of-22 shots from the floor, including 2-of-9 from long distance, in the first 20 minutes.

The senior guard made two triples on an 18-4 surge and assisted on a Buford jumper that closed it to extend the visitors' lead to 27-12 with 4:15 to play before the intermission.

"Ohio State shot the heck out of the basketball," said Penn State head coach Ed DeChellis. "They made every shot and we could never get in rhythm. The first half we had some open shots and we couldn't make them, and then the floodgates opened up on us."

A Diebler trifecta pushed the lead to 51-27 with just under 15 minutes to play, and his last connection from long range came with just over 2 1/2 minutes remaining. The Big Ten career record-holder made nine in a row before missing his last attempt to finish 10-for-12, as all his shots came from beyond the arc.

"I told him today in shootaround that 'We need a big one from you tonight,'" said Buckeyes head coach Thad Matta. "I said get your feet set and you're going to make some shots tonight."

Penn State never got closer than 16 over the final 17 1/2 minutes of the game as the Buckeyes closed out their sixth straight win in Happy Valley.

Game Notes

Ohio State leads the all-time series, 26-12...The Buckeyes are 10-7 in State College...Diebler had made nine three-pointers on December 15 against Florida Gulf Coast to match Jay Burson's school record set against Florida on December 27, 1988...Diebler has made 348 three-pointers...Sullinger was named as one of 10 finalists for Oscar Robertson Player of the Year award earlier in the week. Penn State finished 4-of-13 from long distance...Andrew Jones finished with 10 points for the Lions, who outscored OSU, 36-18, in the paint... The crowd of 15,403 was the sixth-largest in Bryce Jordan Center history.