Williams Scores 21 To Help Ohio State Beat Northwestern, 65-56
DEKALB, Ill. (AP) — Kam Williams scored 21 points, and Ohio State beat Northwestern, 65-56, for its seventh straight win on Wednesday night.
Williams finished one point shy of his season high and hit five 3-pointers.
He was about the only one connecting for either team, helping the Buckeyes (11-5, 3-0 Big Ten) extend their best streak since a 15-0 start in 2013-14. They pulled away down the stretch to beat Northwestern (13-3, 1-2) for the 28th time in 29 games.
Trevor Thompson had 12 points and 10 rebounds for Ohio State. And the Buckeyes prevailed despite shooting 10 of 22 from the foul line and 5 of 18 on 3-pointers.
Northwestern struggled in a big way from the field, shooting 31 percent overall and 6 of 25 on 3-pointers after hitting just 2 of 20 in Saturday's loss to then-No. 4 Maryland.
Northwestern got 15 points and six assists from Bryant McIntosh. Dererk Pardon grabbed 14 rebounds, but the Wildcats dropped their second straight after winning 10 in a row — the program's second-longest run.
Northwestern's Aaron Falzon had just cut it to 51-50 with a long 3 from up top with about six minutes left when the Buckeyes went on a 14-3 run to seal the win.
A fastbreak layup by Jae'Sean Tate off a turnover by McIntosh and two free throws by JaQuan Lyle after he blocked McIntosh and got fouled by the point guard boosted the lead to 64-53 with 2:17 remaining.
Ohio State looked like it was starting to take control late in the first half, up 26-17 after scoring nine in a row. But Northwestern closed it out on a 10-0 run, hitting two 3s after missing its first 11, to take a one-point lead to the locker room.
Tre Demps ended the long-range drought when he connected with 1:45 remaining and Nathan Taphorn nailed one from the corner to put the Wildcats ahead 27-26 with 19 seconds left.
Lyle then stepped on the baseline near the Buckeyes' basket with a second remaining.
TIP-INS
Ohio State: The Buckeyes have not lost since Connecticut beat them on Dec. 12.
Northwestern: Northwestern was 2 of 13 on 3-pointers in the first half.
UP NEXT
Ohio State visits Indiana on Sunday.
Northwestern visits Minnesota on Saturday.
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