Ohio State freshman Malaki Branham (22) dribbles the ball toward the net in the Ohio State-Niagara game on Friday. Ohio State won 84-74. Credit: Mackenzie Shanklin | Photo editor
Ohio State made only 25% of its shooting attempts late in Sunday’s game, but stepped up efforts when it was needed most.
The No.13 Buckeyes (9-2, 3-0 Big Ten) defeated Nebraska (6-8, 0-3 Big Ten) 87-79 in overtime at Pinnacle Bank Arena. Career-high first-year goalie Malaki Branham’s 35 points and graduating goaltender Jamari Wheeler’s clutch shot late in the game helped secure the victory.
With 27 seconds to go in the second half and Ohio State down five, Wheeler emptied a crucial 3 point with a hand to the face on senior forward Justin Ahrens’ pass to reduce the deficit to 72-70.
The Buckeyes fouled Nebraska junior forward Lat Mayen with 22 seconds left and he slammed both shots to give Ohio State a fighting chance.
First-year goalie Meechie Johnson Jr. – who scored the game-winning 3-point goal against Seton Hall – took the ball off the ground and dribbled the right block, missing the front of the rim. Junior forward EJ Liddell recovered the team’s 13th offensive rebound before suffering a foul on his second chance.
Despite having just six of 2-for-13 points on the field at the time, Liddell – who came in on Sunday shooting 72% from the free-throw line – knocked the two down to tie the game at 72. with nine seconds to go.
Nebraska brought the ball to the ground and got an offensive rebound on the missed shot by senior guard Kobe Webster, but second-year guard Eugene Brown III – who had only registered seven seconds before and played only seven minutes into the night – came from behind and blocked the pullout attempt to preserve the tie, sending the game into overtime.
Wheeler shone in free basketball, creating a pair of 3-point daggers to help secure victory. He finished with 16 points, but was assisted by Johnson and Branham who added five points in overtime.
The Buckeyes struggled to reach the free throw line early, making their way to the charity strip twice in the first 20 minutes. However, Ohio State rallied and finished a perfect 8-on-8 to the line in the final 3:47 of rule and into the five-minute overtime period.
Nebraska junior forward Derrick Walker and Mayen took two second chance shots to give the Cornhuskers a 70-65 lead, and with Ohio State chasing points it looked grim for the Buckeyes with 2: 10 to play.
Ohio State turned to Branham who knocked down an elbow jumper to cut the deficit to 70-67 and contribute his 28 points in the paint.
The Cornhuskers came in on Sunday with 577-471, and their problems followed them into the game on Sunday. The Buckeyes beat Nebraska by Glass 42-34 leading to 12 second chance points – including a pair of key first-half marks from Wheeler.
Nebraska started 0-for-5 from 3, and things only got worse for the downtown Cornhuskers as they only shot 35% of that area. They only hit three 3-pointers out of 12 first-half attempts, but gave up that game plan – taking 11 3-point attempts in the last 25 minutes of play – and attacked the rim to earn 38 points. in the painting.
The Huskers had three players who finished in double digits, as first-year goaltender Bryce McGowens and CJ Wilcher and Walker scored 18, 13 and 15 points, respectively.
Ohio State is back on the road Thursday continuing their Big Ten challenge against Indiana at 7pm. The game will air on FS1.
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