Three teams in the Big Ten Conference are ranked higher than either Ohio State or Wisconsin. However, none of that mattered Sunday as both teams outlasted Indiana, Michigan, and Michigan State in order to arrive to the title game.
Ohio State, who beat Michigan State 61-58 to advance to the final, topped Wisconsin 50-43 to win the Big Ten Conference Championship.
The Buckeyes jumped out to a 13-8 lead before Wisconsin went on a 11-0 run, after which the two battled for the remainder of the half before ending the first twenty minutes with a 24-23 Wisconsin lead.
The second half was a back and forth affair, dominated by strong defenses from both squads. Late in the game, Ohio State established a lead, 47-41. Wisconsin closed the gap 47-43, but that would be as close as it got with Ohio State closing the game strong.
Junior forward Deshaun Thomas led the way for the Buckeyes with 17 points. Thomas is the leading scorer for Ohio State with 19.6ppg. Meanwhile, Sophomore guard Traevon Jackson was the only Badger to score double digits by dropping 10 points, outpacing his 6.8ppg average.
Both teams are comfortably in the NCAA Tournament.
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