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Men's Basketball
Turner Takes Over As Bucks Torch Gophers in Big Ten Title Game
By Brandon CastelINDIANAPOLIS – Evan Turner did it again.
Clutching the regular-season Big Ten Championship trophy after Ohio State’s victory over Illinois back on March 2nd, Turner said “We still have a couple more trophies to win.”
After today it’s down to one.
“Our goal was to win a Big Ten Championship, the Big Ten Tournament and the National Championship,” center Dallas Lauderdale said.
“Only one more to go.”With another Big Ten Championship on the line Sunday in Indianapolis, Turner put yet on another show at Conseco Fieldhouse. The conference’s Player of the Year scored 23 of his game-high 31 points in the second half as the top-seeded Buckeyes torched Minnesota 90-61 to capture the Big Ten Tournament title.
“When the time called for it, I just tried to step up and make plays,” said Turner, who entered the tournament in a stiff competition with Kentucky’s John Wall for National Player of the Year.
“Coach (Thad) Matta really told me (to) take over when I could.”
Turner devastated Michigan with a last-second buzzer-beater Friday and scored 12 of his 31 points after regulation in OSU’s double-overtime win against Illinois Saturday. Yet he may have saved his best for last. Leading just 33-30 at the half against the Gophers, Turner completely took over the game in the second half with the help of teammates David Lighty and Jon Diebler.
“This is tournament ball, it’s all about playmakers,” said Turner, who proved yet again he is one of the top playmakers in the country.
“It’s not too much about half-court offense or anything. You just try to make plays and the team who’s in attack mode and the team that’s trying to win is going to win.”
With Turner and Lighty knifing their way to the basket at will and Diebler doing what he does from behind the arc, the fifth-ranked Buckeyes (27-7) took a tightly-contested battle and turned it into a full-on blowout thanks to a 12-minute stretch in the second half where they scored 43 points.
"They're four great guards," said Minnesota's Devoe Johnson including William Buford on his list. "They kind of spread you out and they all take it to dribble, shoot the three. They're just tough to guard," Johnson said.
The Buckeyes shot 65 percent from the floor in the second half including 9-of-14 from behind the arc. They outscored Minnesota 57-31 over the final 20 minutes of action. Turner led all scorers with 23 points in the second half, but Lighty went for 14 of his 20 points and Diebler added three baskets from behind the arc.
Ohio State opened the second half with an 8-0 run behind five points from Turner, who was named the Most Outstanding Player in this year’s Big Ten Tournament, following up his Player of the Year award from the regular season.
The Gophers (21-13) battled back with a 7-0 run of their own to make it an 11-point game at 51-40 early in the second half, but this was just Ohio State’s day, and Ohio State’s season for that matter.
The Buckeyes rattled off a 12-0 run to take a 56-42 lead thanks to the outstanding play of Lighty, who lowered his head and drove the ball to the basket on one possession after another.
“He was like a freight train,” Turner said of Lighty, who attacked the basket like Beanie Wells attacking a defensive back.
The Buckeyes extended their lead to 20 points at 65-45 behind a 24-8 run and from there Turner and his teammates were just messing around with the Gophers. Using his patented hesitation move, Turner slashed to the basket for and-ones, which left Diebler open for outstanding looks from long range.
"I think as a unit we got hot, made our run, once we got a couple of points ahead, we didn't want to let them back, just kept trying to hit shots and trying to get defensive stops," said Turner.
Turner finished with 31 points for the second straight day to go with 11 rebounds, six assists and two steals. He averaged 26.7 points per game during the tournament, earning him a spot on the all-Big Ten Tournament team along with teammates David Lighty and William Buford.
Buford added 13 points, four assists, three rebounds and three steals while Lighty had seven rebounds and five assist to go with his 20 points. Minnesota guard Devoe Joseph was also named to the all-tournament team along with Illinois point guard Demetri McCamey. Joseph scored 14 for the Gophers Sunday while Lawrence Westbrook had a team-high 17 points.
The Buckeyes have earned a two-seed in the NCAA tournament and will play in the Midwest Region. They will meet USC Santa Barbara in Milwaukee in their first NCAA tournament game.
Game Notes:
* Evan Turner's 31 points is a Big Ten Tournament championship game record and third in all Big Ten tournament games. Turner's 12 field goals also is a Big Ten Tournament game record.
* Turner's 80 points during the tournament is the third-best in tournament history behind Luke Recker's 91 in 2002 and Brent Darby's 84 in 2003.
* Ohio State's 34 field goals sets a Big Ten Tournament Championship game record.
* Ohio State's 12 three-point field goals sets a Big Ten Tournament Championship game record.
* David Lighty and William Buford played all but one of OSU's 120 tournament minutes.
* The Buckeyes are 2-3 all-time in tournament championship games.
* Evan Turner recorded his 16th double-double of the season and 27th of his career.
* OSU's 90 points set a record for points in a Big Ten Tournament Championship game.
* Ohio State's .576 shooting percentage is the highest ever in a Big Ten Tournament Championship game and ninth-best in all Big Ten Tournament games.
Big Ten Tournament Locker Room Championship Tees and Hats available at Football Fanatics!!!
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