NO. 13 OHIO STATE 64 | MICHIGAN 54
Backups bolster Buckeyes
Harris, Terwilliger help fuel 14-3 run
Sunday, February 26, 2006
Bob Baptist
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
NEAL C . LAURON | DISPATCH J.J. Sullinger congratulates teammate Ivan Harris after Harris sank a three-pointer during a decisive 14-3 run in the second half.
NEAL C . LAURON | DISPATCH Matt Terwilliger of Ohio State steals the ball from Brent Petway of Michigan during a critical stretch of the second half.
His teammates branded him with the nickname two weeks ago, after he heated up just long enough — three three-point baskets in less than four minutes — to shoot the Ohio State men’s basketball team back into a game at Michigan.
Backup guard Ivan Harris became "Microwave," the same handle Vinnie Johnson went by when he was igniting the Detroit Pistons’ "Bad Boys" teams of the late ’80s and early ’90s.
"That’s what I do," Harris said. "I hit shots."
Backup center Matt Terwilliger still lacks a nickname — and he isn’t looking for one.
"I fly under the radar," he said.
Not yesterday.
Harris and Terwilliger totaled only 20 minutes on the floor but were conspicuous by their presence in Ohio State’s 64-54 victory over Michigan in Value City Arena.
They combined for nine straight points in a 14-3 run midway through the second half that enabled the Buckeyes to expand a six-point lead to 17 and play with a comfortable lead down the stretch of a difficult game in which neither team shot 40 percent from the field.
"In both games against Michigan, our bench has probably been the biggest difference," said coach Thad Matta, whose team got 29 points from Harris, Terwilliger and Ron Lewis in a wide-open 94-85 win at Michigan on Feb. 9.
The game yesterday was the antithesis of that shootout. The 13 th-ranked Buckeyes (21-4, 10-4) shot 39.3 percent from the field and made only four threepoint baskets but leaned on center Terence Dials and a dogged defense to gain sole possession of first place in the Big Ten.
Iowa’s loss at Illinois later in the day gave Ohio State a one game lead in the standings with two games to play. The Buckeyes can clinch at least a share of their first Big Ten championship since 2002 by winning one of their final two games, Wednesday at Northwestern and next Sunday at home against Purdue. They will win the title outright for the first time since 1992 by winning both games.
Dials had 22 points and 11 rebounds, his fifth consecutive double-double. J.J. Sullinger had 13 points and eight rebounds to take up some of the slack for guards Lewis, Jamar Butler and Je’Kel Foster, who combined for two field goals and 15 points.
The guards did, however, limit Michigan’s top scorer, Daniel Horton, to 12 points. Horton also had six turnovers.
Ron Coleman’s 13 points led Michigan (18-8, 8-7), which outrebounded the Buckeyes by 10 but committed 18 turnovers and was outscored at the foul line by 10 points — the difference in the final score.
"We weren’t as strong with the ball the way we needed to be," coach Tommy Amaker said. "They did a really nice job of being quicker to loose balls, and I thought that resulted in them being the aggressor and getting to the foul line.
"When you look at the shooting percentages of both teams, you figure this is going to be a possession game, and whatever team can hang onto it and find a little surge to kind of pull away (is going to win). I thought they did that in the second half."
Ohio State led 44-38 with nine minutes remaining when Terwilliger took advantage of the Wolverines respecting his teammates more and made a shot from the left wing. Next time down the floor, he made them pay from the top of the key. He capped an eventful minute by forcing a turnover by Michigan and then diving into the courtside seats trying to save one at the other end.
Then Harris got hot. He caught an inbounds pass from Sullinger on the baseline and made a 10-foot jumper, then made a top-of-the-key three 21 seconds later. The baskets began a 10-0 run that put Ohio State ahead 58-41 with 5:19 left. Michigan’s deficit was inside double figures again.
"Any time Ivan comes in the game, something’s going to happen," Sullinger said with a smile. "The basket’s always huge for Ivan. He got us going a little bit."
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