Despite facing a halftime deficit for only the second time all year, the No. 2 Ohio State men’s basketball team rallied to a closer-than-expected 73-68 win at Iowa on Tuesday night.
After trailing by seven points at the break, the Buckeyes opened the second half on a quick 9-0 run. And although OSU led by as many as 13 points, the Hawkeyes trailed by just three with less than a minute to go. Freshman Aaron Craft then put the game away when he made two free throws and forced a turnover on the ensuing possession.
Freshman Jared Sullinger led the scoring for the Buckeyes and his 24 points and 12 rebounds were good for his seventh double-double of the season. Senior Jon Diebler added 14 points, 12 of which came from beyond the 3-point line.
Freshman J.D. Weatherspoon, who likely wouldn’t have seen any playing time anyway, as coach Thad Matta used only two players off the bench, missed his second straight game. OSU spokesman Dan Wallenberg confirmed earlier this week that Weatherspoon had been declared academically ineligible through Winter Quarter.