Busting Brackets
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Big Ten Basketball: Matt Painter climbs wins ladder, Rutgers sets records

By Daniel Benjamin

Nov 16, 2021; West Lafayette, Indiana, USA; Purdue Boilermakers guard Jaden Ivey (23) talks with head coach Matt Painter (right) during the second half against the Wright State Raiders at Mackey Arena. Mandatory Credit: Marc Lebryk-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 16, 2021; West Lafayette, Indiana, USA; Purdue Boilermakers guard Jaden Ivey (23) talks with head coach Matt Painter (right) during the second half against the Wright State Raiders at Mackey Arena. Mandatory Credit: Marc Lebryk-USA TODAY Sports /
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EJ Liddell’s carries Ohio State past Northwestern

Ohio State junior forward EJ Liddell had a game of his career as he lit up the scoreboard for 34 points, helping the No.13 Buckeyes to a 95-87 victory over Northwestern on Sunday night. Liddell did most of his damage in the first half, tallying 21 points (17 points coming in the first five minutes) on 8 of 11 shooting from the floor, including 5 of 8 from beyond the arc. He also pulled down three rebounds, blocked four shots, and tallied two assists in the first 20 minutes. Ohio State led 51-39 at the break.

Ohio State (10-3, 4-1) foiled Northwestern’s comeback attempt by knocking down 11 free throws over the final three minutes with Liddell and Malaki Branham, who finished with 24 points, each converting a pair after the Wildcats cut the lead to six with 41 seconds remaining. The Buckeyes shot 56.9% from the field, made 11 treys (44%), and was 26 of 27 from the free-throw line (96.3%).

Meanwhile, Ty Berry tallied 23 points on 8 of 12 shooting to lead three Wildcats (8-5, 1-3) with at least 20 points. Pete Nance and Chase Audage each contributed 20 points. Northwestern shot 47.1% from the field, 41.7% from the 3-point line, and 76.5% from the charity stripe.

Ohio State Tidbits

  • Ohio State was without head coach Chris Holtmann and assistant Ryan Pedon against Northwestern due to health and safety protocols.
  • Assistant Jake Diebler ran the team in Holtmann’s absence.
  • Liddell set personal marks with 12 field goals, on 20 attempts, and five treys. Sunday’s performance was his sixth game of at least 20 points. He came into the Northwestern game having made just 5 of 26 field-goal attempts, including 2 of 10 from beyond the arc.
  • Ohio State’s 95 points were the most in a Big Ten game since scoring 106 vs. Penn State on December 7, 2019. It was just the second Big Ten game of 95 or more points for the Buckeyes dating back to the 2006-07 season.
  • The Buckeyes 51 first-half points were a season-high and marked the first time OSU scored 50 or more points in the opening half of a game since scoring 60 vs. Marshall on November 25, 2016.
  • Ohio St. has made 10 or more 3-pointers seven times this year. The Buckeyes leads the Big Ten in 3-point made during conference play and ranks in the top 50 in the nation in 3-pointers (9.3) at a 39.2% clip.
  • Branham, a 6-5 freshman guard, has scored in double-figures in three straight games and four of six overall. He is averaging 24 points over the last three contests.
  • PG Jamari Wheeler has doled out five or more assists in eight games this year. He averages a career-best 4.4 dimes a game while committing 1.8 turnovers.

Northwestern Tidbits

  • The Wildcats are on season-high three-straight games.
  • The Wildcats’ 87-point performance is their highest against a Big Ten opponent since scoring 89 against Iowa on January 15, 2017.
  • Audige, Berry, and Nance are the first Wildcat trio with 20+ points in the same game since Vic Law, Ryan Taylor, and AJ Turner did so against La Salle on November 23, 2018.
  • Berry topped the 20-point plateau for the first time in his career while adding a career-best six rebounds.
  • Junior point guard Boo Buie has doled out eight assists in each of his last two games. He leads the Big Ten with 5.9 assists a game.
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