Ohio State falters late against Northwestern, drops fifth in a row

The Ohio State Buckeyes were within striking distance for the majority of the second half, but the Northwestern Wildcats' 3-point shooting carried them over the edge.

The losing streak continues.

Despite forward Justice Sueing's 19 points, the Ohio State Buckeyes (11-13, 3-10 Big Ten) losing streak trudges on to five games as they fell to the Northwestern Wildcats (17-7, 8-5 Big Ten) 69-63 Thursday at Value City Arena.

Northwestern guard Brooks Barnhizer buried his fourth 3-pointer of the game with 4:44 to go in the second half as part of a 7-0 Wildcats run.

Guard Boo Buie's four free throws jump-started the scoring run with just under six minutes to play.

Buie matched Barnhizer's 19 points, knocking down 6 of 10 from the floor.

Ohio State roared back with a 5-0 run, but a corner 3-pointer from guard Chase Audige put the game on ice. Audige's make capped off a 12-for-29 night from deep — a stark contrast to Ohio State's 3-point shooting.

The Buckeyes started 0-for-10 from deep, as guard Sean McNeil stepped into a 3-pointer with 17:34 to go in the second half, tying the game at 33.

Ohio State only attempted three more 3s for the game and missed them all, finishing just 1-for-14 in that department.

Despite the season-worst 7 percent 3-point shooting for the game, Ohio State found its groove from the field Thursday — something it had been missing in the previous four games. It eclipsed 50 percent from the field for the eighth time this season, making 24 of its 48 shot attempts, including an 8:01 stretch in the second half in which it was 7 of 8.

Forward Zed Key threw down a monstrous dunk over a Northwestern defender as part of his team-high seven first-half points. Key exited the game with an injury with 7:40 to go in the first half but returned only missing a couple of minutes of action.

The Buckeyes looked to find the 3 early. But it was to no avail.

Ohio State started 0-for-4 from beyond the arc in the early going, but Northwestern’s 3-point game — hitting three in a row after starting 0 of 2 — to kept the Wildcats afloat in the first half.

A Key layup at the 11:54 mark was the only bucket for Ohio State before guard Roddy Gayle Jr. drove to the lane and hit a floater to snap the 4:45 scoring drought.

Northwestern didn’t capitalize because a layup at the rim from guard Brooks Barnhizer was the only Wildcats bucket during Ohio State’s scoreless stretch.

However, they would score nine of the final 11 points in the first half, carrying a 28-27 lead into the break.

Ohio State outrebounded Northwestern 35-24 and shot 64 percent from the free-throw line.

The Buckeyes return to Value City Arena Sunday where they’ll square off against Michigan State at 1 p.m. on CBS.

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