Michigan stops Ohio State THE SCORE

Jordan Poole went on a scoring tear, sending Michigan’s seniors out with a win in their last home game.

The freshman guard came off the bench and scored 12 of his 15 points in the first half to help the 22nd-ranked Wolverines take the lead, and they never trailed in the second half of a 74-62 win over No. 8 Ohio State on Feb. 18.

“We’re starting where they’re ending,” Poole said. “Them going out on a great note, especially against a Top 10 rivalry team, it’s awesome.”

The Wolverines (22-7, 11-5 Big Ten) beat a rival and helped out another one, giving No. 2 Michigan State a one-game lead atop the conference standings with two games left in the regular season.

Michigan coach John MICHIGAN 74, OHIO STATE 62

Beilein said the win makes up “a little bit” for a onepoint loss to No. 6 Purdue as his team aims to improve its seeding for the Big Ten and NCAA tournaments.

“It certainly helps the resume,” Beilein said.

The Wolverines have won three straight for the first time since ending a sevengame streak on Jan. 6.

“We’re playing the right way at the right time,” Beilein said.

Michigan’s MuhammadAli Abdur-Rahkman scored 17 points.

The Buckeyes (22-7, 133) have fallen out of first place by losing consecutive Big Ten games for the first time this season.

“If this beats us down, shame on us,” Ohio State coach Chris Holtmann said.

Ohio State’s Keita BatesDiop had his second straight lackluster game, missing 12 of 17 shots and scoring 17 points.

“I’m not worried about him,” Holtmann insisted.

Jae’Sean Tate had 20 points and 15 rebounds for the Buckeyes, whose last lead was 18-17 midway through the first half. his space and bodying him up on drives,” Holtmann said. “He’s got to do a better job of adjusting to that.”

Poole’s play is encouraging for a team with its leading scorers averaging just 10 to 14 points a game in the Big Ten. He scored in double digits in three of his first seven games, including a 19-point performance against Indiana, but had 10 or more points in just four of the next 19 games. Poole hadn’t scored more than eight points in his previous eight games and was averaging 4.6 points during the low-scoring stretch.

“We’re trying to find what the best way is for him to score,” Beilein said. “I love that he’s got that swag.”