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Indiana looks to make it two straight without Sampson

Feb 26, 2008 - 2:38 PM Ohio St (17-10) at No. 12 Indiana (23-4) 7:00 pm EST

BLOOMINGTON, Indiana (Ticker) - Indiana hopes to go 2-0 under interim coach Dan Dakich when the 12th-ranked Hoosiers host Ohio State in Big Ten action Tuesday.

The 12th-ranked Hoosiers (23-4, 12-2 Big Ten) held on for an emotional 85-82 victory over Northwestern on Saturday in Indiana's first game since the departure of coach Kelvin Sampson.

Many players had Sampson's initials written on their shoes and with their former coach obviously on their minds, Indiana struggled to defeat the lowly Wildcats - the only winless team in the conference (0-14).

Armon Bassett had 24 points in the win and freshman Eric Gordon added 18 for the Hoosiers, who are just one-half game behind Wisconsin (13-2) for first place in the Big Ten. Gordon leads the team in scoring at 21.5 points per game.

The Buckeyes (17-10, 8-6) have lost two straight games, including a 58-53 defeat to Wisconsin on Sunday.

Jamar Butler scored 14 points in the setback, while freshman Kosta Koufos had 10 and 10 rebounds.

Indiana won the first meeting this season, 59-53, on February 10.