Right: Seniors Jamar Butler, Othello Hunter, and Matt Terwilliger pose with the NIT trophy.
AP Photo/Julie Jacobson

The last time Ohio State played in Madison Square Garden for a title, the outcome was not nearly as favorable as it was last night.

Back on November 23, the Buckeyes advanced to the finals of the NIT Season Tip-off, originally known as the Preseason NIT, losing to then 15th-ranked Texas A&M by a score of 70-47.

A lot has changed for this young OSU team since then.

Against the Aggies, Ohio State couldn’t throw a rock into the Hudson River if they were standing on a pier, shooting just 24.1 percent (14-for-58) from the field, and were outrebounded 46-30.

In that game, the Buckeyes only trailed 31-26 at halftime before getting blown out of the Garden in the second stanza.

Now fast forward more than four months later, where Ohio State found itself once again playing at “The World’s Most Famous Arena” in the heart of New York City against Massachusetts.

UMass jumped out to an early 10-2 lead two-and-a-half minutes into the game as the Minutemen used an all-out, run-and-gun style of offensive basketball to their advantage.

Ohio State, though, quickly got back into the game, fueled on three, 3-pointers, two of which came from senior Matt Terwilliger.

The lead changed hands five different times with one tie until UMass’ Ricky Harris connected on consecutive triples on two trips down the court to put the Minutemen ahead 23-19 with 11:38 remaining in the opening period.

UMass took their largest lead of the game with 3:51 left in the first half when Gary Forbes knocked down a trey, and the Minutemen headed in the locker room at intermission with a 41-36 cushion.

Facing the same deficit of five points at halftime as they did against Texas A&M more than four months ago, the Buckeyes came out with something to prove, and sent a message to the NCAA selection committee that they made a mistake by not inviting them to the “Big Dance.”

Ohio State started the second half just like UMass did to begin the game only one better, by going on a 11-2 run capped off on a three-pointer from the most unlikeliest of all Buckeye long-range shooters, Othello Hunter, which gave OSU a 47-43 lead with 17:22 to go.

The Buckeyes never trailed the rest of the way.

Ohio State took their largest lead of the game when Kosta Koufos converted a pair of free throws with 9:26 left to put the Buckeyes ahead 64-55.

UMass, who won their last three NIT Tournament games by rallying from double-digit deficits, made one last run at OSU as Harris netted one of his seven, 3-pointers of the contest that tied the game at 68-all with 6:21 to play.

But Ohio State responded as Koufos drained a three from the right baseline, and on OSU’s next trip down, he got his own rebound after a missed trey, then with authority, rattled home a two-hand jam that gave the Buckeyes a 73-70 advantage with 5:30 remaining.

Ohio State’s record was 21-0 when they’re leading with five minutes left, and as the clock ticked down past that mark, the Buckeyes were ahead.

Now that record on the season stands at 22-0 after Jamar Butler threw a touchdown pass nearly the length of the court to Hunter, who threw down monster dunk to put Ohio State up 79-75 with 3:10 to go.

UMass could not get any closer the rest of the way.

Koufos, who was named the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player, scored 20 of his 22 points in the second half and added nine rebounds.

Turner added 20 points on 5 of 6 shooting from the field, which included making all three of the shots he attempted from beyond the arc.

Playing in their final game as seniors, Butler, who was named to the all-tournament team, scored 19 points and dished out seven assists, while Hunter chipped in 17 points and pulled down a team-high 10 rebounds.

Though the Buckeyes committed 19 turnovers, they did shoot the ball very well, going 32-for-58 (55.2%) from the field, and were 10 of 19 from three-point land.

Defensively, Ohio State held UMass to 36.8 percent (32-for-87) shooting from the floor.

Up next, I will recap the 2007-08 basketball season, as well as look ahead as to what the 08-09 campaign may hold for the Buckeyes.

Tags: Buckeye Basketball //