OSU men take down top-ranked Michigan State

1/7/2018
BY NICHOLAS PIOTROWICZ
BLADE SPORTS WRITER

COLUMBUS — Ohio State took down the No. 1 team in the country for the first time in 13 years, and this time, no heroics were needed.

Michigan State guard Matt McQuaid, center, goes up to shoot between Ohio State forward Andre Wesson, left, and center Micah Potter on Saturday in Columbus.
Michigan State guard Matt McQuaid, center, goes up to shoot between Ohio State forward Andre Wesson, left, and center Micah Potter on Saturday in Columbus.

Behind a career-high 32 points from Keita Bates-Diop, the Buckeyes crushed No. 1 Michigan State 80-64.

Ohio State led for the final 31 minutes of the game and led by no fewer than 12 for the duration of the second half.

The win was Ohio State’s first against the No. 1 team in the Associated Press top 25 since 2005, when former forward Matt Sylvester hit a late 3-pointer to beat top-ranked Illinois.

Against the Spartans, C.J. Jackson added 14 points, Jae’Sean Tate had 12, and the Buckeyes shot 52.5 percent from the field.

Ohio State (13-4, 4-0) is tied for first place in the Big Ten alongside Purdue.

Contact Nicholas Piotrowicz at npiotrowicz@theblade.com, 419-724-6110 or on Twitter @NickPiotrowicz