Ohio State has won its second straight Big Ten Tournament against the heavy underdog Penn State 71-60. Ohio State broke free from the tough defense and methodical pace of the Nittany Lions in the second half, scoring 42 points after the break and leaving Penn State without a viable counter punch.
Ohio State was led by three of the players that have carried the team all year, seniors Jon Diebler and William Buford had 15 and 18 points respectively, while the dependable and dominant freshman Jared Sullinger nabbed 15 points and 11 rebounds, his third straight double-double of the weekend.
Penn State's seniors had a valiant effort against the regular season Big Ten Champions, Jeff Brooks had a gutty 19 points and 6 rebounds in his 39 minutes, while tournament sensation Talor Battle led his team with 24 points and 5 rebounds while playing all 40 minutes The Nittany Lions may not have won their conference tournament, but they have probably done enough with their late push to secure themselves a long sought after NCAA tournament bid.
For Thad Matta and the Buckeyes, the victory is nothing more than what was exactly expected of them, as they March toward being a No. 1 overall seed and a likely trip deep into the tournament. With a roster that is loaded with both experienced seniors and very talented underclassmen, this Ohio State team is a serious contender for this year's National Championship.