Game of the eke for OSU, Washington

INDIANAPOLIS — Ohio State guard Duane Washington Jr. just wanted a second chance at his home-state team.

On Saturday, the former Michigan prep star made sure it counted.

He scored 24 points, grabbed six rebounds and had four assists, helping the ninth-ranked Buckeyes fend off a frantic finish by the fourth-ranked Wolverines for a 68-67 victory and a trip to the Big Ten Tournament title game.

“This rivalry means a lot to a lot of our guys, a lot of our Ohio guys,” Buckeyes coach Chris Holtmann said. “Even guys like E.J. [Liddell], who has seen what it means to our fans. Duane feels that; he knows what this game means to our fans. It’s not football, we understand that. But Duane understands it.”

It sure wasn’t easy. For the third straight day, the Buckeyes nearly blew a double-digit lead in the second half.

Michigan (20-4) scored the last seven points, and Mike Smith had a chance to win it with a long jumper with two seconds left. Instead, it bounced off the back of the rim, and time expired in a scramble for the ball.

The Buckeyes (21-8) play No. 3 Illinois on Sunday, seeking their first title since 2013.

For Washington, it was pure joy. After scoring a career-high 30 points in a 92-87 loss to Michigan on Feb. 21, he immediately started talking about a rematch. And he didn’t disappoint, going 5-for-10 from threepoint range.

“Today we needed him big, huge, and he produced,” Liddell said after scoring 18 points. “That’s why he’s a big-time player.”

It wasn’t exactly the same script as Round 1. Michigan announced before the game that starting guard-forward Isaiah Livers would be out indefinitely because of a stress fracture in his right foot. Livers was scoreless in 15 minutes in the Wolverines’ victory Friday over Maryland.

Forward Kyle Young, who missed most of the second half Friday for Ohio State after getting hit in the head with an inadvertent elbow, also sat out.

But like most games in this bitter rivalry, it was physical and close.