Ohio State’s late season surge to a potential NCAA Tournament appearance ended at the hands of 13th ranked Illinois 77-74.  The loss snapped Ohio State’s 5 game winning streak and dropped the Buckeyes to 20-13 and a likely trip to the NIT, while Illinois improved to 24-8 and will move on to the semifinals tomorrow. Ohio State grabbed a three point lead with 1:43 remaining on a Jamison Battle three, but would not score again as Illinois finished off the game scoring the final 6 to get the win. The Buckeyes shot 45% compared to Illinois’ 42%, but a 32-13 made free throw disparity in an unevenly officiated game where Ohio State was whistled for 27 fouls compared to just 13 for Illinois, cost the Buckeyes on this night. Jamison Battle led Ohio State with 21, while Bruce Thornton completed a double double, scoring 20 and dishing out 10 assists. Illinois was led by Terrence Shannon with 28 and Dain Dainja added 18, while Ty Rodgers chipped in 12.   It was a torrid pace to start the basketball game. Ohio State struck first when Jamison Battle hit a fade away jumper just above the stripe. Illinois answered when the seas parted and ended with an Illini dunk. Bruce Thornton’s triple from the top was followed by another Illinois dunk and and Thornton answered right back, getting to the rim off the dribble and scooping the ball off the glass for two. After an Illinois lay-in, Roddy Gayle drove from the left baseline and finished on the other side with a reverse lay-in. After a Felix Okpara block, Felix ran the floor and got behind the defense where Evan Mahaffey lobbed to him for a dunk and Ohio State led by 5. Illinois grabbed an offensive rebound and converted and when Battle was fouled attacking the rim, the under 16 media timeout was called with Ohio State leading 11-8. Coming out of the timeout, Battle buried both free throws, but Illinois scored the next four to close within 1. Battle stopped the run with a short jumper mid-paint, but Illinois scored four more to shift ahead for the first time and at the under 12, Illinois led 16-15. Ohio State went back ahead when Gayle hit a floater left of the lane, but the lead was short lived as Illinois answered with a triple from the left wing. Illinois added to their lead, splitting a pair of free throws and after an Ohio State turnover, the Illini converted an old-fashioned three point play to extend the lead and at the under 8, Illinois led 23-17. Ohio State stopped the 7-0 run when Zed Key knocked down 1 of 2 free throws. Illinois added to their lead with a pair of free throws. Devin Royal got Ohio State closer with a short jumper in the lane and after Scotty Middleton picked the pocket of an Illini, he led a break to Roddy Gayle for an uncontested dunk. After Illinois missed a front end, on the other end, Key grabbed an offensive rebound and scored through contact bringing out the finger guns. Key completed the old-fashioned three point play, knocking down the free throw to tie the game. A Thornton lob to Okpara ended with a dunk to put Ohio State back in front but an Illinois steal and uncontested dunk stopped the 8-0 Buckeye run and re-tied the game and after a Buckeye turnover led into final media timeout and with 2:17 left in the half, the game was knotted at 27. An Illinois triple broke the tie and Ohio State got within when Thornton hit a jumper in the lane. A questionable foul call, one of many in the first half put the Illini at the stripe where they split the pair to complete the first half scoring with Illinois leading 31-29. While some may say the first half foul disparity was incredibly lopsided, with Illinois being whistled for just 6 compared to 11 for Ohio State, fortunately for the Buckeyes, Illinois missed half of their 10 free throw attempts. The Buckeyes shot 43% in the first 20 minutes, holding Illinois to just 38%. Ohio State missed 6 of their 7 three point attempts, with Illinois making just 2 of 6. The Illini held a slight 21-19 lead on the backboards while also out scoring Ohio State 8-2 on the fast break, but for Buckeye fans, to be only down 2 despite not playing their best basketball, they had to feel very good heading to the locker room.  Ohio State was led by Bruce Thornton’s 7 first half points while Roddy Gayle and Jamison Battle each added 6. Illinois was paced by a game high 14 from Terrence Shannon.    The Buckeyes got off to a fast start in the second half, scoring the first 8 to go back in front. Battle kicked off the scoring with a 15 foot jumper on the right wing. Gayle’s runner through contact and the ensuing free throw added to the lead and when Thornton buried a three from the right wing, the Buckeyes were off and running. Illinois finally got on the board when a tip in off a miss fell through the ropes and Illinois called a timeout with 17:29 to play and the Buckeyes leading 37-33. Thornton split a pair free throws and Illinois answered with a three to cut the lead to 2. Two Illini free throws re-tied the game, but a short jumper by Royal broke the tie and shifted Ohio State back in front. Another Royal jumper added to the Buckeye lead, but an Illini runner cut the lead back to 2. Thornton quickly answered the other way, getting to the paint off the bounce and scored through contact and his free throw completed the three point play and increased the lead to 5. After an Illinois miss, Middleton banked in a runner, increasing the lead. Illinois scored at the rim, but Middleton answered with a three from the right point. After another Illinois bucket at the rim, a second chance opportunity led to Thornton scoring with a scoop off the glass and Jake Diebler took a timeout with 12:01 left in the game and Ohio State leading 52-44. Illinois scored again with a short jumper, but on the other end a Key tip dunk of a Royal miss answered. After an Illini turnover, Thornton hit a short jumper putting the Buckeyes up 10. Illinois split a pair of free throws and the second clanged out of bounds off a Buckeye. Illinois took advantage of the extended possession, scoring at the rim to trim the lead to 7. Key split a pair of free throws upping the lead to 8. Two Illini free throws cut into the margin and after a Buckeye miss, an Illini triple cut the lead to just 3. Illinois cut the lead to 1 with a rebound and put back. Ohio State stopped the 9-1 run when Battle hit a turnaround jumper, but an offensive rebound and dunk and a foul sent the teams to their benches for the under 8 media timeout and Ohio State clinging to a 59-58 lead. Out of the timeout, the free throw dropped to complete the old-fashioned three point play and tied the game. Thornton picked off an Illinois pass and Bonner hit a runner to put the Buckeyes back in front and off an Illinois miss, Ohio State rushed up the floor where Battle scored off the glass and Illinois took a 30 second timeout with 6:27 to play and Ohio State leading 63-59. A terrible foul call that should have been offensive sent the Illini to the stripe where two fell, but a pair by Battle answered and kept the Buckeye lead at 4. Illinois cut back into the lead with a free throw, but a turnaround jumper in the paint by Battle kept Ohio State ahead by two possessions. A hook in the lane dropped for the Illini cutting the lead back to 3 and after a Buckeye miss, Illinois scored off the glass and it was suddenly a 1 point game. Battle scored in the lane to extend the lead but Illinois answered with a put back. Thornton’s runner answered, but on the other end, a bucket and foul on Okpara, his fifth and final, stopped play for the final media timeout and with 2:26 to play Ohio State led 71-70. Illinois missed the free throw, but secured the rebound and a foul on Evan Mahaffey, his fifth,  put Illinois back on the line where they made 1 of 2 to tie the game. Battle broke the tie with a step back three, but on the other end a pair of Illinois free throws cut the lead to just 1 with 1 ½ to play. A Buckeye miss and a foul put Illinois back on the line where both fell giving Illinois a 1 point lead, their first lead since the opening minutes of the half. A pair of offensive rebounds by Illinois kept the possession alive and used clock to the point where Ohio State was forced to foul and with 11.3 seconds to play, Ohio State took a timeout with Illinois leading 75-74. Illinois drilled both free throws extending the lead to 3 and Illinois took a timeout. Battle’s three clanged off the rim. Illinois’ inbound pass was intercepted by Battle who’s attempt from beyond half court fell off target ending the game and Ohio State’s stay in the tournament.   While Ohio State likely will not hear their name called when the NCAA tournament bracket is revealed on Sunday, they are absolutely a tournament quality team. They were the better team on the floor against the 13th ranked team in America and if it weren’t for some extremely one sided officiating, they would have advanced to the weekend and likely punched their ticket to the madness. This team has nothing to apologize for.  They proved a lot of doubters wrong over the last month and are setting up for a very bright future for this program with the youth of this group moving forward. The key to keeping the core in the program and continuing the upward ascent is to absolutely take the interim tag off of Jake Diebler. For continuity, relationships with Ohio recruits and the betterment of the program, Coach Diebler is 100% the man for the job. A report in the Columbus Dispatch said it was between Jake and Dusty May of FAU and if this game was any indication along with the past month, they already have their man in place. Do the right thing Ross Bjork and Gene Smith, hire Jake and get this thing rolling into the postseason and into 24-25.  Ohio State will return to Columbus and await their postseason fate which will more than likely be an NIT appearance and they will find out the who, when and where on Sunday night.    -Jason Harris Photo Credit – FOX Sports