Ohio State Men's Basketball: Home Cookin': Buckeyes Overwhelm Illinois

2-22-11     vs. Illinois     W, 89-70     26-2

     A Value City Arena sell-out crowd of 18,085 served up some home cookin' for the road-weary Buckeyes, and Ohio State feasted on the hapless Fighting Illini.

     Jon Diebler's buzzer beating 3-pointer capped off an exciting 1st half that saw the Buckeyes race out to a 47-32 lead.

     The 2nd half quickly turned into the David Lighty show.  Lighty scored 13 consecutive points to halt an Illinois comeback, and the senior guard finished the game with 21 points in addition to his 6 steals on the defensive end of the floor.

     The 2nd stanza may have belonged to Lighty, but the 1st 20 minutes were all about William Buford.  Buford recovered from a tough Sunday afternoon in West Lafayette by pouring in 17 points, all of which came before the intermission.

     Although he played 2nd fiddle to Lighty and Buford, Jared Sullinger was still able to compile a double-double - 12 points and 11 rebounds.

Lighty records 1 of his 6 steals

    Illinois shot a staggering 51.9% from the floor and 52.4% beyond the arc, but the Illini were doomed by their inability to handle the basketball.  OSU forced 16 turnovers, leading to numerous fast break opportunities.

     The play of Demetri McCamey perfectly exemplifies Illinois' performance as a whole.  McCamey did score 15 points, but he also committed 5 giveaways.