The box score shows that Deshaun Thomas took more shots than anyone in the game.
It does not reveal that only two of the 15 came in the final 14 minutes of Ohio State?s 76-74 overtime loss at Michigan.Thomas, the Big Ten?s leading scorer, exhaled audibly late Tuesday night when he was apprised of that fact outside the Buckeyes? locker room in the Crisler Center, but not from frustration.
Thomas led Ohio State with 17 points, but in the last nine minutes of regulation and all five of overtime, his only shots were a missed three-pointer from the left wing with 2:23 left in regulation and, seconds later ? after Nik Stauskas? outlet pass was tipped to Thomas by teammate Lenzelle Smith Jr. ? a made three from the same spot.
?I was just trying to do anything to try to win the ballgame,? Thomas said. ?You don?t need a guy that?s going to jack up or force shots. We?ve got to make that defense work. I was just (laying) back and waiting till my time came. I was focused on the other end and getting stops and trying to do what I could do to help the team win.?
Thomas? time never came. But in his stead, two sophomores whose arrival on a stage like Tuesday?s had long been anticipated finally emerged. LaQuinton Ross and Amir Williams combined to score 13 of Ohio State?s last 18 points of regulation.
?They grew up,? Thomas said.
Thomas? inability to find shots down the stretch was partly by design. Michigan guard Trey Burke said the Wolverines ?did a good job of limiting (his) touches,? and coach John Beilein complimented his defense for stiffening when it mattered most.
Ohio State shot 59.3 percent from the field in the second half but, in overtime, missed four of five shots and turned the ball over twice. Point guard Aaron Craft, in whose hands the ball stayed for the most part, attempted four of the shots and had one of the turnovers.
When asked why Thomas did not get a shot, coach Thad Matta said it was a matter of ?where we were trying to attack? in overtime.