WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Ohio State coach Thad Matta understood the ramifications from the moment he suspended forward Marc Loving. The Buckeyes needed everyone else to play a little better Wednesday. When they didn’t and the defense broke down, the Buckeyes’ three-game winning streak was history. Rapheal Davis scored 20 points, and a stout defense rescued Purdue from late free-throw shooting woes to hold on for a 60-58 upset of the 20th-ranked Buckeyes. “We gave up 13 layups in 19 field goals,” Matta said. “We were not as sharp as we needed to be with our ball screen defense. We got blitzed off the ball screen a couple of times. Offensively, there were times we were like in quicksand.” The Buckeyes (17-6, 6-4 Big Ten) still had chances, including a 40-foot desperation heave from D’Angelo Russell at the buzzer. But the shot never came close, typifying a strange night for the Big Ten’s second-highest scoring team. …
Continue Reading: College basketball: No Marc Loving not to No. 20 Ohio State’s liking in loss to Purdue
