Sullinger scores 19 to lead Buckeyes over Nebraska

[January 04, 2012]  COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) -- Jared Sullinger had 19 points and 12 rebounds, and No. 6 Ohio State shook off its most recent loss with a 71-40 victory over Nebraska on Tuesday night.

The Buckeyes (14-2, 2-1 Big Ten) had little difficulty in their first game since a painful 74-70 defeat at No. 13 Indiana on Saturday. In that loss, the Buckeyes had 17 turnovers and committed 22 fouls.

Deshaun Thomas added 15 points and William Buford had 13 for the Buckeyes, who won their 35th consecutive home game.

Toney McCray had 13 points and Bo Spencer 10 for Nebraska (8-6, 0-3), which was playing its first Big Ten road game.

The Cornhuskers were outrebounded 44-21 and had more turnovers (17) than field goals (16).

Spencer came in leading the Cornhuskers in scoring at 15.1 points a game (24.3 in three road games). But he, like the rest of his teammates, never came close to competing with the Buckeyes.

To put things into perspective, one of the biggest cheers of the night came when the fans recognized new Ohio State football coach Urban Meyer sitting high in a private booth. He received a lengthy ovation.

Nebraska was without two of its top scorers for the fifth consecutive game: 6-11 Jorge Brian Diaz is out with chronic foot soreness, and junior-college transfer Dylan Talley has been sidelined by a thigh injury.

The Cornhuskers have had the most difficult early-season schedule in the Big Ten, with home games against No. 11 Wisconsin (a 64-40 loss) and No. 16 Michigan State (a 68-55 defeat) before coming to No. 6 Ohio State. Those are also the top three teams in the preseason Big Ten poll.

Already up big at the break, Ohio State flexed its muscles in the opening minutes of the second half before coach Thad Matta emptied his bench.

In the opening 2 minutes, Sullinger was fouled while releasing a 15-foot baseline jumper -- and it went in. Thomas also was fouled while tossing up a spinning, over-the-head bank shot that also found the bottom of the net. The lead hovered around 30 for most of the half.

The Cornhuskers got out to a miserable start. From a 4-all tie, Ohio State ran off the next 13 points while Nebraska was continually turning the ball over. During one span, the Huskers had turnovers on four consecutive possessions.

Five players scored in the 13-0 run for the Buckeyes, with Buford hitting two baskets and Lenzelle Smith Jr. adding a 3-pointer.

McCray, who had nine points in the half, scored on a drive to cut the gap to 28-15 at the 5:09 mark, but Ohio State took off again with a 16-5 run to close the half. After an inbound play broke down in the closing seconds, the pass went to Sullinger, who poured in a 3 for a 44-20 halftime lead.

The Buckeyes improved to 5-2 all-time against Nebraska. Their last meeting was an 85-74 Buckeyes victory in St. John Arena in the 1989 National Invitation Tournament. Then-freshman Chris Jent, now an Ohio State assistant, started that game and had four points and five assists.

[Associated Press; BY RUSTY MILLER]

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