Ohio State rolls past Nebraska
COLUMBUS — Ohio State has plenty to look forward to heading into the new year.
Justin Ahrens came off the bench to score 18 points and freshman Zed Key added 14 points on 5- for- 5 shooting as the No. 25 Buckeyes used balanced scoring to beat Nebraska 90- 54 on Wednesday night.
Duane Washington Jr. added 13 points, Justice Sueing 12 and Seth Towns 11 as Ohio State ( 8- 2, 2- 2 Big Ten) got points from 10 players and won for the third time in four games.
“Tonight was a unique Big Ten game; you don’t have many that are like that,” Ohio State coach Chris Holtmann said. “It was a really solid performance. We were able to defend them with great purpose. Our ball movement was exceptional. That’s what we have to continue to be.
“If we were playing them again tomorrow, the game could look much different. ... We played really well.”
Key to Ohio State’s success was its outside shooting. Ahrens went 6 of 9 from long range and the Buckeyes were helped by 12- for- 32 shooting from beyond the arc.
“I felt really good,” Ahrens said. “My teammates did a great job of just finding me. Once I see one or two go through, I get a feeling. I feel like I gotta shoot it if I’m open.
“Once I see one or two go through, I’m going to keep shooting until I miss.”
The Cornhuskers ( 46, 0- 3) lost their third straight game and were slowed by 28.3% shooting from the field. Nebraska has lost 12 games against ranked opponents.
Ohio State put the game out of reach with a 12- 2 run at the start of the second half. The Buckeyes also scored 21 points off turnovers.
Nebraska was led by Teddy Allen’s 13 points. Allen picked up his fourth foul with more than 16 minutes left in the game and sat for more than 10 minutes. He is the Huskers’ leading scorer, averaging 18.2 points.
“I thought we missed some really good shots in the first 10 minutes and that kind of set the tone for the game,” Nebraska coach Fred Hoiberg said. “As it wore on, it affected us on the other end and then they overwhelmed us with their physicality. It is what that team does.” BIG TEN BLUES Nebraska has not won a Big Ten game since Jan. 7, when it topped Iowa.
TRIPLE THE FUN
Ahrens attempted his first 2- point basket of the season in the first half. Through Ohio State’s first nine games, Ahrens had only previously shot from beyond the arc.
# 23 Virginia 66, Notre Dame 57
SOUTH BEND, Ind. ( AP) — Virginia’s momentary shakiness against surging Notre Dame reminded Cavaliers coach Tony Bennett of a toy from the 1970s.
“Weebles wobble, but they don’t fall down,”
Bennett said after the No. 23 Cavaliers relinquished almost all of an 11- point secondhalf lead, then pulled away late for a 66- 57 victory over the Fighting Irish on Wednesday night.
“Our young guys don’t know what that is,” Bennett said of the old- time toy, “but we wobbled a couple times, but we didn’t fall down.”
Kihei Clark had 19 points and five assists as No. 23 Virginia continued its string of dominance over Notre Dame.
The Cavaliers ( 5- 2, 1- 0) improved to 12- 0 in Atlantic Coast Conference openers under Bennett and 10- 0 in ACC regular- season matchups against the Irish.
Jay Huff scored 15 points for Virginia. Sam Hauser added 13 points and 10 rebounds.
Notre Dame ( 3- 5, 0- 2) fell despite a careerhigh 28 points from Nate Laszewski. The junior forward hit 8 of 11 shots from the field with four 3- pointers to go with 8 of 10 at the line.