Men’s college basketball: Ohio State routs Michigan

Ohio State’s Sam Thompson moves around Michigan’s Derrick Walton Jr in the second half Tuesday in Columbus, Ohio. Ohio State won 71-52. (AP Photo/Mike Munden) COLUMBUS — D’Angelo Russell scored 21 points, Sam Thompson added 12 and Ohio State defeated Michigan 71-52 on Tuesday. The Buckeyes (14-4, 3-2 Big Ten) also got 10 points from Amir Williams while Shannon Scott had eight assists to go along with seven points. Caris LeVert scored 14 points and Zak Irvin had 11 for the Wolverines (10-7, 3-2), who had a two-game winning streak end. Any chance the Wolverines had of erasing a 39-24 halftime deficit was lost when they went cold and the Buckeyes took a 52-24 lead. Neither team could score the first three minutes of the second half before the Buckeyes scored 13 in row. Four came via two Russell drives, another two points were inside by Amir Williams and Scott tossed the ball up for a Thompson slam and a 47-24 lead with 15:15 remaining. Scott made a basket and free throw and Kam Williams followed with a bucket off a Scott assist and the lead reached 28. Meanwhile, the Wolverines missed their first 13 shots before a rebound tip by Max Bielfeldt 7½ minutes into the final half. Michigan methodically crept back to within 14 with three minutes to play on a half hook by Mark Donnal but the Buckeyes’ Marc Loving made it 67-50 with a 3-pointer. The game started well for Michigan. It led 14-13 on a rebound basket by Aubrey Dawkins but Ohio State’s defense kicked in and the Buckeyes outscored the Wolverines 26-10 over the final 12 minutes. …

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