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Wednesday, Mar. 1 8:00pm ET
For now, Buckeyes alone in first | |||||
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BOX SCORE
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (AP) -- Michael Redd had his typically big night against Penn State, but it was George Reese's clutch shooting that moved Ohio State (No. 5 ESPN/USA Today, No. 6 AP) into first place in the Big Ten. Redd had 22 points and Reese added 16, including eight over the final five minutes, as the Buckeyes beat Penn State 79-73 Wednesday night. "I had a little rhythm going, and Coach tried to milk me," Reese said. "He tried to keep getting me the ball." The Buckeyes (21-5, 12-3) are alone at the top -- at least for a day. Michigan State can join them by beating Minnesota on Thursday. Ohio State can assure itself of a share of the conference championship for the first time in eight years by beating Minnesota on Saturday. "You have to expect that Michigan State isn't going to lose either of their remaining games," Ohio State coach Jim O'Brien said. "We knew we had to win this one. If we're good enough to win that game Saturday, I think we're good enough to be co-champs." Reese wasn't too excited about being No. 1 -- not yet. "After the Minnesota game, if we get the 'W,' then come and talk to me," he said. Redd came into the game averaging 26.4 points against the Lions. But he scored his points quietly as Reese made basket after key basket to turn away Penn State's rally from a 14-point deficit in the final minutes. Joe Crispin had 21 points and Jarrett Stephens added 19 in their final home games for Penn State (13-13, 5-10), which has lost eight of 10 games. Jon Crispin had 14 points, and he sparked the Lions' comeback, hitting consecutive 3-pointers to pull Penn State within 65-61 with 5:31 to play. "I felt they were never out of the game. They've got guys like Crispin -- I mean, the Crispins -- who can launch it from anywhere," Reese said. But after a timeout, Reese drove in for a layup, then hit a 15-footer to make it 69-61. Stephens made three foul shots and Joe Crispin scored on a fast break to pull Penn State within three points, then Reese scored on a putback. Joe Crispin hit a fallaway jumper, but Reese hit a jumper from the top of the key. O'Brien said he noticed that Penn State's defensive switches left Reese, a 6-foot-7 forward, matched up with the Lions' guards. "We were just trying to take advantage of his size," O'Brien said. "That's why we went to him so much." In the final minute, Penn made three of four foul shots and Redd scored on a fast break and hit a foul shot. "This was one of those toughness wins, where we had to tough it out at the end," O'Brien said. "There's a little more at stake and they know that." The Buckeyes shot 52 percent, while Penn State finished at 39 percent. With five blocks, Ohio State's Ken Johnson has 301 in his career, sixth in the Big Ten. Hoping to end Penn State's three-game losing streak, coach Jerry Dunn had promised lineup changes, but all he did was start his seniors for their last home game. His usual starters played most of the game -- and he got the usual results. But Dunn was at least happy with the effort this time -- unlike Sunday after Purdue routed the Lions. "I couldn't ask for anything more from these guys. We get some shots to go down, it's probably a different story," he said. "Ohio State made some big-time shots, with a hand in their face." | ALSO SEE Mens College Basketball Scoreboard
AUDIO/VIDEO   Michael Redd gets the deflection and scores.avi: 582 k RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1 Jarrett Stephens battles hard under the boards for the basket.avi: 574 k RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1 | |||||