National Basketball Association
BOXSCORE | RECAP
Michigan St 68, Ohio St. 64
When: 3:30 PM ET, Sunday, March 11, 2012
Where: Bankers Life Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, Indiana
Officials: # Michael Kitts, # Ted Valentine, # Terry Wymer
Attendance: 17125

Michigan State 68, Ohio State 64:
Brandon Wood had a season-high 21 points as Michigan State held off the Buckeyes to win its first Big Ten tournament in more than a decade.

Draymond Green finished with 12 points on just four-of-15 shooting but hit the big shot when it mattered most, a 3-pointer with 1:36 left that helped the top-seeded Spartans claim their first conference tournament crown since winning back-to-back titles in 1999 and 2000.

Now, Michigan State (27-7) is in line for a potential No. 1 seed in the NCAA tournament, while the Buckeyes are likely destined for a 2-seed. Both teams earned a share of the Big Ten regular-season title along with Michigan.

Jared Sullinger had a team-high 18 points and nine rebounds for Ohio State (27-7), which won the previous two conference tournament titles and was trying to become the first team in league history to win three straight.

Deshaun Thomas and William Buford each finished with 11 points, and Aaron Craft and Lenzelle Smith Jr. added 10 for the Buckeyes, who split the season series with Michigan State and won the most recent meeting, 72-70 on March 4.

Ohio State, the third seed, led 52-45 with 14:06 left after a Thomas 3-pointer, but the Spartans responded with a 10-0 run over the next three minutes to regain the lead at 55-52. Michigan State twice took five-point leads, but couldn’t shake free of the Buckeyes, who pulled within 64-62 on a Sullinger jumper with 3:33 left.

But Ohio State, which scored just six points in the game’s final eight minutes, struggled to hit a shot — or a free throw — down the stretch. It came up empty on 11 of its final 15 possessions, including twice when it could have tied the game or taken the lead.

Needing someone to step up, the Spartans turned to Green, much like they have all season. The senior delivered, burying a 3-pointer near the top of the key that gave Michigan State a 67-62 lead. The Buckeyes couldn't draw closer than three the rest of the way.

Derrick Nix had 10 points for Michigan State, which led 34-32 at the half.

GAME NOTEBOOK: The loss was Ohio State’s second in the last six meetings and its fourth ever in the Big Ten tournament championship game… The Buckeyes are now 4-4 all-time in title games, while the Spartans improved to 3-0… Sullinger’s 72 total points in the conference tournament was the fifth-most all-time… Michigan State converted nine-of-21 3-pointers… The Buckeyes only got four points from their bench.
Top Game Performances
 
Ohio St.   Michigan St
Jared Sullinger 18 Scoring Brandon Wood 21
Aaron Craft 4 Assists Keith Appling 5
Jared Sullinger 9 Rebounds Draymond Green 9
William Buford 3 Free Throws Made Draymond Green 2
Aaron Craft 3 Steals Keith Appling 1
William Buford 2 Blocks Adreian Payne 4
Team Stats Summary
 
Team Points FG% 3PM-3PA FTM-FTA Assists Rebounds Blocks Steals Turnovers
Ohio St. 64 39.7 4-17 10-15 6 35 4 3 10
Michigan St 68 48.1 9-21 7-14 16 27 5 3 6