#11 Spartans upset #3 Buckeyes in Columbus 58-48
Tonight the # 11 Michigan Spartans and the #3 Ohio State Buckeyes went head to head in a Big Ten showdown. Michigan came into the game (19-5) while the Buckeyes sat comfortably at (21-3).
Head Coach Thad Matta was well prepared for this match up and was eager to watch it unfold. “From top to bottom, in the year I’ve been in the Big Ten, this is probably as good as it’s going to get,” he said. “Sometimes there’s a cut about, the parity this year is just incredible.”
The Buckeyes only three loses this year were to Illinois, Kansas University and Indiana University.
Ohio was planning on banking on sophomore forward Jared Sullinger who averages 17.4 points per game and nine rebounds. Sullinger has 17 points in tonight’s upset. Pretty routine.
For most of the second half, Michigan was missing one of their best shooters, Draymond Green, whom averages 15.2 points per game and 10.2 rebounds. He missed nine straight in the second half. But the big time performer tonight for the Spartans was Adreian Payne with 15 points and four rebounds.
With two minutes left in the game, the Buckeyes really lost sight of their goal of maintaining the #3 ranking, trailing 54-44. When you are in a situation as the Buckeyes were, you have to buckle down and not create simple stupid mistakes, like forcing bad positions and sloppy passes that result out of bounds.
After the two minute mark, the Buckeyes went foul crazy and gave Michigan opportunities to clinch the win. Both teams scored three more points apiece and the game was over. Michigan took the game 58-48 upsetting the #3 team in the country.
