Stockman seals win at the line

DALLAS (AP) -- These are the kind of games Ohio State has to

enjoy since there will be no postseason.

Tony Stockman had 23 points, with three 3-pointers in the

stretch in which the Buckeyes regained the lead, in a 77-71 win

over Texas Tech and alumnus Bob Knight on Thursday night.

"Games like this will motivate us," Stockman said. "Beating a

good team like this on the road is something to get excited

about."

After hitting five 3-pointers, Stockman made four free throws in

the final 28 seconds to seal the nationally televised win for the

Buckeyes (7-2).

The Buckeyes played just their second game since Dec. 1, a

stretch during which the school imposed a one-year ban on

postseason play in response to $6,000 the university said former

coach Jim O'Brien gave a recruit who never played there.

"It's nice to come out here and get a road win, especially

against a tournament-bound team," said Terence Dials, who had 17

points and 10 rebounds. "This boosts our confidence so much."

Texas Tech (5-2) had won four straight games by an average

margin of 37 points since its only other loss, an 83-68 defeat at

TCU on Nov. 23.

Knight played on Ohio State's national championship team in 1960

and was interested in coaching there after O'Brien was fired in

June. But athletic director Andy Geiger didn't interview Knight and

hired Thad Matta from Xavier.

In his fourth season at Texas Tech, and under contract through

2009, Knight didn't talk about his alma mater after the game. But

he said earlier this week that he still has fond feelings about

Ohio State.

He probably didn't have the same kind of feelings about his

current team Thursday night.

After tying the game at 71 following five straight points by

freshman Martin Zeno, the Red Raiders didn't score again in the

final three minutes.

"We had a chance to win with the score tied, and they played

better than us in the last three minutes," Knight said. "You're

not going to beat teams like this making the mistakes we did."

Sylvester tipped in Stockman's missed 3-pointer for the go-ahead

basket with 2:43 left. The Red Raiders missed five shots and had a

turnover their last six possessions.

Texas Tech, which trailed by 13 in the first half, didn't lead

until Curtis Marshall's 3-pointer with 9:45 left made it 56-55. The

teams then traded baskets before Ohio State had four straight

3-pointers.

Stockman made three of the 3-pointers, and Matt Sylvester had

the other, giving the Buckeyes a 69-64 lead with just over five

minutes left.

"Our guys were able to answer their runs," Matta said. "It

was a good win for our guys. At this stage, win, lose or whatever,

we just want to play better basketball.

"We've worked on being down and keeping our composure," he

said. "I guess I've talked about it so much, they're finally

listening to what I'm saying."

Zeno led Texas Tech with 20 points, and Marshall had 13.

Brandon Fuss-Cheatham had 12 points -- all before halftime.

Stockman had five of Ohio State's nine 3-pointers.

Ohio State scored the game's first six points and didn't trail

until midway through the second half. The largest lead was 37-24

after Fuss-Cheatham hit a 3-pointer, his second in just less than

two minutes.

The Buckeyes made 9-of-21 shots from 3-point range, and before

Stockman's four late free throws, were just 4-of-13 from the line.