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No. 6 Ohio State dismantles Nebraska

Jan 4, 2012 - 3:31 AM Columbus, OH (Sports Network) - Jared Sullinger scored a game-high 19 points and grabbed 12 rebounds as No. 6 Ohio State dismantled Nebraska, 71-40, Tuesday night.

Deshaun Thomas added 15 points and William Buford poured in 13 for the Buckeyes (14-2, 2-1 Big Ten), who have won 35 straight games at home.

Toney McCray scored 13 and Brandon Richardson added 11 for the Cornhuskers, (8-6, 0-3) who are still searching for their first Big Ten Conference win.

Ohio State smothered Nebraska defensively in the first half, holding the Cornhuskers to just 8-for-24 shooting from the field, including a dismal 1-9 from beyond the arc.

"I think we played defensively with the intensity that we needed to play with in tonight's game. The things we were able to do tonight, we felt like we were where we needed to be and keeping pressure on the ball was big for us," said Ohio State head coach Thad Matta. "Offensively, with the exception of three- point shooting and turnovers, we did what we needed to do and had the right intensity."

The Buckeyes used 21-9 run over the final 7:50 of the first half, which was capped off when Sullinger nailed a step-back three with five seconds remaining. Ohio State took a 44-20 lead into the locker room.

The Buckeyes continued to pour it on in the second half, opening the stanza with a 13-8 run. OSU managed to stretch its lead to 31 twice before taking a 33 point lead when Evan Ravenel nailed a jumper at the 8:16 mark.

Nebraska was able to shave the deficit to 29 with 4:34 left, but it was as close as it would get as back-to-back J.D. Weatherspoon baskets gave the Ohio State a 33-point lead once again.

The Cornhuskers had no answer for the Buckeyes' big men as they were outrebounded 44-21 and outscored 42-26 in the paint.

"I thought we competed hard. For all purposes this game was probably over at halftime," said Nebraska head coach Doc Sadler. "I was concerned at the end of the first half when we gave up a couple of easy baskets in transition that we might drop our heads. That didn't happen in the second half so you have to give the guys credit."

OSU shot 53.6 percent from the field despite making just 2-of-17 threes. It will be in action next on Saturday when it travels to Iowa to take on the Hawkeyes.

Game Notes

Ohio State leads the all-time series 5-2...The last time the two schools met was in the 1989 NIT, the Buckeyes won 85-74...Nebraska has lost three straight.