No. 2 Ohio State Clinches Big 10, Besting Top-Ranked Badgers

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Mike Conley Jr. drove the lane and made a runner with 4 seconds left to give no. 2 Ohio State a 49–48 victory over top-ranked Wisconsin yesterday, clinching the Buckeyes' second consecutive Big Ten title.

The game marked the first time Big Ten teams have met in a 1 vs. 2 game. With the victory, the Buckeyes are likely to climb to the top spot in The Associated Press rankings for the first time since Jerry Lucas, John Havlicek and a sub named Bob Knight were ranked no. 1 throughout the 1962 season.

Alando Tucker, Wisconsin's candidate for conference player of the year, had given the Badgers the lead with just under a minute left when he scored inside off Jason Chappell's dump pass.

Chappell then blocked a shot by Ron Lewis before Wisconsin's Kammron Taylor was sent to the line in the bonus situation with 20.3 seconds left. Taylor's first attempt spun off the rim.

After a timeout, the Buckeyes (26–3, 14–1) passed around the perimeter before Conley, a freshman who has spent his career in the shadow of 7-foot high school and college teammate Greg Oden, then scissored through the lane and tossed up a soft shot that balanced on the rim before falling.

The Badgers (26–4, 12–3), who lost both games this week after becoming No. 1 for the first time ever, inbounded to Taylor who drove the length of the floor and tried an off-balance 15-footer at the buzzer. Lewis, a senior playing his final home game, blocked the shot.

Taylor looked to the officials, hoping to get a call. But there was no call and within seconds a capacity crowd flooded the court in celebration. Ivan Harris led the Buckeyes with 13 points, with Oden and Conley each scoring 11.

***

MARYLAND 89, UNC 87 D.J. Strawberry scored a career-high 27 points, and Maryland rallied from a 12-point deficit in the second half to beat no. 5 North Carolina 89–87 yesterday and extend their winning streak to five games.

North Carolina (24–5, 10–4 Atlantic Coast Conference) had a chance to force overtime with 3.5 seconds left, but Brandan Wright missed the first of two free throws and the Tar Heels failed to control the rebound of his second misfire.

As the final buzzer sounded, fans rushed the court to celebrate Maryland's first win over North Carolina in six tries since January 14, 2004.

Mike Jones scored 18 points and James Gist had 12 for the Terrapins (22–7, 8–6).