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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) – When the NCAA selection committee picks
tournament teams, Ohio State coach Jim O'Brien hopes they take a
look at what the Buckeyes did Saturday.
"This win helps our portfolio," O'Brien said after his team
beat Wisconsin (No. 18 ESPN/USA Today, No. 16 AP) 63-58. "Whenever we need to make our case,
this will really help us."
|  | | Wisconsin players look on with disappointment during the final seconds of a 63-58 loss to Ohio State. |
Ken Johnson made two foul shots with 41.7 seconds left and Ohio
State limited Wisconsin to two free throws in the last four minutes
to pull off the Buckeyes' latest upset.
The Buckeyes (16-8, 7-5 Big Ten) lost their first four games
against ranked opponents this season, but have beaten No. 3
Michigan State, No. 14 Iowa and the Badgers in the last two weeks.
"It keeps us in the hunt," O'Brien said. "You survive until
the next game. A game like this gives you some impetus for what may
happen next month. This one sure helps."
Brent Darby scored 18 points, Johnson and Brian Brown each had
13 and Sean Connolly added 10 as Ohio State won its third in a row
and ended the Badgers' five-game winning streak.
"This was big for us," said Darby, a point guard who also had
six rebounds to go with four assists. "To go where we want to go,
we had to win today."
Wisconsin (15-6, 6-4), led by 10 points in the first half. The
Badgers took a 56-53 lead on Kirk Penney's 3-pointer with 3:59
remaining, but missed their last six shots.
"We didn't execute down the stretch and Ohio State did,"
Wisconsin coach Brad Soderberg said. "In this league, in a close
game, that's the separator."
They still led 58-56 on a pair of foul shots with 2:12 left by
Mark Vershaw, who had a team-high 13 points.
After the teams traded misses, Ohio State freshman Zach Williams
hit a 15-foot jumper at the 1:15 mark to pull the Buckeyes into a
tie.
On its next possession, Wisconsin still had 7 seconds left on
the shot clock when Vershaw drove to the basket and – with defender
Williams hitting the floor in an attempt to draw a charge – flipped
up an off-balance shot that banged off the rim. Johnson rebounded
and was fouled.
Johnson, limping because of a leg injury, made both to give Ohio
State the lead for good.
"I was hurting at the end of the game, but the thing about
being hurt is you have to be tough mentally," he said. "I didn't
want to let us down."
Andy Kowske, who had 10 points, missed a 14-foot baseline jumper
for the Badgers with 17 seconds remaining.
"I was not pleased with our shots," Soderberg said. "I would
have preferred to attack the rim than to have Andy shoot that.
That's a tough shot."
Darby rebounded and was fouled and hit the first shot to make it
61-58. His second bounded long off the rim and Johnson tapped the
ball back toward midcourt.
"He made a brilliant play," O'Brien said.
The ball went to Connolly, who was immediately fouled. He made
the first but missed the second with 14 seconds left.
The miss ended Connolly's string of 25 consecutive made free
throws. He had not missed since Dec. 13.
Wisconsin hit 54 percent of its shots in the first half but just
30 percent (6-of-20) in the second.
O'Brien said he had wanted to remain in a man-to-man defense,
but was talked into going to a zone in the second half by his
assistant coaches. The move paid off.
"Their changing defenses disrupted our rhythm in the second
half," Soderberg said.
Johnson said he hoped another win over another ranked team got
the attention of the right people.
"I hope this impresses the selection committee," he said.
"But we still have to focus on the next game."
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ALSO SEE
Men's College Basketball Scoreboard
Wisconsin Clubhouse
Ohio State Clubhouse
AUDIO/VIDEO
 Ken Johnson throws down the alley-oop from Brian Brown.
avi: 1106 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
Wisconsin's Andy Kowske slams home the missed shot.
avi: 500 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
Ohio State's Ken Johnson rejects Andy Kowske.
avi: 701 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
Andy Kowske goes baseline for the two-handed slam.
avi: 692 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
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