Ohio State sophomore forward Kaleb Wesson (34) dribbles the ball during the second half of the game against Northwestern on Feb. 20. Ohio State won 63-49. Credit: Amal Saeed | Assistant Photo Editor
The Ohio State men’s basketball team (17-10, 7-9 Big Ten) faced a tough road match against the No. 24 Maryland (21-7, 12-5) and could not get the job done, losing to the Terrapins 72-62.
The Buckeyes brought the game to within two points late in the second half, but Maryland outscored Ohio State 15-7 in the final 5:04 to secure the victory.
A slow start to the first half doomed the Buckeyes. Despite keeping the lead within 10 points, Maryland was always able to maintain control on the court and keep Ohio State from seriously threatening.
In the second half, the narrative stayed the same. Maryland always found a way to counter with an attack of their own recording a 13-0 run in the second half effectively sealed Ohio State’s fate.
Then Ohio State freshman guard Duane Washington got hot. Coming off the bench, he hit a 3 to cut Maryland’s lead to five to give the Buckeyes a chance at a road upset. In the end, Maryland had another answer and it was not enough to get the win.
Washington led the team with 15 points on 5-of-10 shooting, adding three rebounds and four assists.
With senior guard C.J. Jackson out with a shoulder injury sustained against Michigan State, redshirt senior guard Keyshawn Woods stepped up to fill that hole. In the first half, he scored 10 of Ohio State’s 28 points, shooting 4-of-8 from the field with two 3 pointers and a career-high four steals.
Woods did not score in the second half, missing all three shot attempts.
Junior forward Andre Wesson finished the game with 13 points, shooting 2-of-4 from the 3-point line with two rebounds and two assists.
However, where Woods and Wesson stepped up, sophomore forward Kaleb Wesson faltered. The leading scorer on the season for the Buckeyes who had been averaging 14.7 points per game shot 3-for-12 for seven points, was 1-for-5 from the 3-point line and missed two free throws.
Defensively, Ohio State failed to manage the Maryland offense as the Terrapins shot 54 percent from the field in the first half. In total, Maryland was 23-of-47 on the night.
Junior guard Anthony Gowan led the way for Maryland with 17 points, shooting 3-4 from the 3-point line with four rebounds, four assists and one block.
With four games left for Ohio State, the Buckeyes will look for a big win ensure their chances of making the NCAA Tournament when they take on No. 21 Iowa on Tuesday at the Schottenstein Center. Tip off is set for 7 p.m.
