Columbus, OH (Sports Network) - The 14th-ranked Ohio State Buckeyes will try
to avoid back-to-back losses for the first time this season when they play
host to the Iowa Hawkeyes in a Big Ten Conference bout at Value City Arena on
Tuesday night.
After losing its first three Big Ten contests, Iowa got back on track last
week with a win at Northwestern (70-50) and a home triumph over Wisconsin
(70-66). The Hawkeyes' small run has allowed them to move to 13-5 overall,
although their only previous road game against a nationally-ranked team did
not go very well, as they suffered a 95-67 loss at Michigan on Jan. 6.
Ohio State has been one of the best teams in the country, racking up 13 wins
in its first 17 matchups, but it dropped a tough conference road game this
past Saturday in a 59-56 decision at nationally-ranked Michigan State to fall
to 3-2 in the Big Ten. The Buckeyes have played exceptionally well on their
home floor however, going 10-1 in Columbus.
The all-time series between these two programs could not have been played any
tighter after 150 meetings, as each side has won 75 times. The Buckeyes have
evened it up in recent years thanks to seven straight victories over the
Hawkeyes.
Iowa was able to open up an 18-point lead at the half over Wisconsin its last
time out, and while its advantage was cut to just three in the final minute,
it was able to hold on for the conference victory. Iowa held on down the
stretch thanks to a fantastic 24-of-29 showing at the free-throw line, with
Aaron White (17 points) doing most of the damage by going 13-of-15. Roy Devyn
Marble added 13 points, while Mike Gesell and Anthony Clemmons pitched in 11
and 10 points, respectively. On the season, the Hawkeyes own the fourth-ranked
scoring offense in the Big Ten, putting up 73.9 ppg on 44.3 percent field goal
shooting. Their success at the foul line has been sustained, as it attempts
more than 24 free throws per contest at a 71.5 percent clip (second in the
conference). Marble nets a team-high 14.9 ppg, while White brings 13.5 ppg and
6.2 rpg to the table while shooting better than 55 percent from the floor.
Gesell (8.9 ppg) connects on fewer than 40 percent of his field goal attempts,
but helps make up for it with 3.1 apg and 1.3 spg.
Ohio State had its hands full against Michigan State in East Lansing, and
while it managed to tie the game with 57 seconds left on a pair of Deshaun
Thomas free throws, it could not complete the comeback. The team only shot
40.4 percent from the field, with a large chunk of that production coming from
an outstanding performance from Thomas, who shot 10-of-20, including 6-of-11
from 3-point range for 28 points. Aaron Craft managed just five points on 2-
of-8 shooting but he chipped in six assists and five steals in the setback.
Thomas has been great all season long, as he scores a Big Ten-best 20.8 ppg
and also grabs a team-high 6.6 rpg. Lenzelle Smith, Jr. shoots 3-pointers at a
42 percent clip on his way to 10.1 ppg, and while Craft's field goal
efficiency has been less than desirable (.385), he has made his mark with an
impressive assist-to-turnover ratio (80-to-27) and nearly two steals per
contest. As a team, the Buckeyes average 73.4 ppg, but the biggest reason for
their success has been their effort at the defensive end as they allow just
57.9 ppg on 38.2 percent field goal shooting, both of which rank second in the
league.
The Sports Network