Buckeyes Bury Boilermakers

Ohio State narrowly nipped number six Purdue in West Lafayette, Indiana Tuesday night. The two bucket, four point Buckeye victory was the second straight loss for the previously undefeated Boilermakers. Thad Matta’s Ohio State team bested the Boilermakers 70-66 in a battle of Big 10 opponents. Evan Turner torched Purdue with a career high 32 points. The offense is configured around Turner, and the team’s cornerstone did not disappoint. The Buckeyes withstood 35 points from Purdue’s Robbie Hummel and rallied from 13 down to turn in their 12th win of the season against a suddenly precarious Purdue.
Turner pocketed 14 of the final 18 Ohio State points in his third game back for the scarlet and gray since missing a month. Ohio State sophomore, William Buford, had 19 points and seven rebounds in the upset win over the nation’s number six team. Hummel nailed 29 first half points and tied a Purdue record eight 3-pointers. He was also a stopper for the Boilermakers, snagging ten rebounds in a standout effort. But it was Ohio State’s leading man that was the real show-stopper at Mackey Arena. The All-American and NBA-caliber junior had his way with Purdue’s stalwart defense. Turner had nine rebounds and put the ball in the basket during the crucial minutes against the Boilermakers. Turner is an excellent ball-handler and passer in addition to being a proven clutch shooter. With their top scorer back in the starting lineup, the Buckeyes shouldn’t be in danger of falling out of the conference race.
Buford supported Turner in the first quarter with three baskets during a 9-0 Buckeyes run. Ohio State went on to take an 18-13 advantage ten minutes before halftime. Hummel secured six from the arc in an impressive and amazing 3-point barrage with six minutes left in the half. Twenty-two of Purdue’s 27 shots in the first half were 3-pointers. The home team began the game shooting just over 31% from the rainbow. The Boilermakers closed in on the Buckeyes and eventually carried a 41-29 lead into the locker room. Ohio State was driven to make it a respectable second half. David Lighty, the OSU junior, did a good job guarding Hummel. He was physical and executed well in shutting out Hummel down the stretch. Lighty is an effective defender and has a shot to match. Last night, he slowed the Big 10’s top hoopster enough for his offense to gain momentum. He only scored five points but saw 40 minutes playing time. E’Twaun Moore added 19 points for Purdue, including one from downtown to start the second half. The Buckeyes closed to within six points before turning the ball over with five minutes left to play. Moore’s layup was followed by a dunk by JaJuan Johnson to increase the home team’s edge to ten points. Turner responded with a 10 point run to tie the game at 62-62. Purdue pressured with 20 seconds on the clock, but the Buckeyes got the ball inbounds and Buford converted a pair of free throws to win the game. Matta switched his defensive arrangement in the second half, and it proved to be the difference. That, and Turner’s mad run.
Purdue shot 34.5% in the second half and missed five 3-pointers in as many chances. Hummel hit two of eight shots in the second half. Purdue doesn’t seem to be a team that can close out games. You can’t lose a conference contest after leading by 13 points at home. It was the Boilermakers’ first home loss of the season. Matt Painter’s Purdue squad cruised through their nonconference schedule unbeaten. Now they’ve been bested twice by Big 10 foes. The Buckeyes were killed by a front-loaded road schedule, but their point guard returning, should have an easier time in the upcoming weeks. Ohio State prevailed in a much needed conference game. They were coming off a dangerous 1-4 record to being Big 10 play. Tuesday, the Buckeyes chipped in another W, their first of the season on the road. The anxious Buckeyes turned to the dexterous Turner for a signature instrumental performance.

Parting Points: Lane Kiffin is leaving Tennessee for USC. Mistake for the Trojans.
Tiger can’t drive Cadillacs for free anymore. What a pity.

Charles Woodson earned the NFL’s defensive player of the year, much to the chagrin of Jets’ coach Rex Ryan. The Titans’ Chris Johnson was awarded a well-deserving offensive player of the year nod.