Sullinger powers No. 1 Ohio St. past No. 18 Minnesota

Jared Sullinger and still-unbeaten Ohio State didn’t back down or let up.

Another unflappable performance by the 6-foot-9, 280-pound freshman left Minnesota coach Tubby Smith wondering what happened to his big men — and planning more time for his team in the weight room.

David Lighty scored 19 points, Sullinger had 18 points and 13 rebounds, William Buford and Jon Diebler made three 3-pointers apiece, and the top-ranked Buckeyes (24-0, 11-0 Big Ten) were an 82-69 winner over No. 18 Minnesota (16-7, 5-6) on Sunday in Minneapolis.

“You can see the difference in experienced, physical players: they just kind of shoved us out of the way,” Smith said.

Every starter for Ohio State scored 10 or more points to help stretch the second-longest winning streak in school history, creeping toward the record of 32.

Buford added 15 points, 4 assists, 4 rebounds and 2 steals, and the Buckeyes checked another opponent off the list in this most challenging month. Up next is a trip to No. 19 Wisconsin on Saturday, and after a home game against Michigan State the Buckeyes travel to play No. 11 Purdue.

They have won 12 straight conference road games, dating to last season.

“We’re never scared,” Sullinger said. “Even on the road, or at home, we just keep playing basketball. That’s what we do.”

Blake Hoffarber led Minnesota with 16 points.

Wisconsin 82, Michigan St. 56:

Jordan Taylor scored 30 points to lead host No. 19 Wisconsin (17-5, 7-3 Big Ten) in a pounding of Michigan State (13-10, 5-6), the Spartans’ fifth loss in six games. The loss was just short of the Spartans’ worst ever to the Badgers, a 27-point defeat in 1972, and comes on the heels of a 20-point loss to last-place Iowa. Wisconsin shot 59 percent from the field for the game.

Michigan 65, Penn St. 62:

Darius Morris had 23 points, and Tim Hardaway Jr. scored all 13 of his points in the second half to help Michigan (14-10, 4-7 Big Ten) overcome two double-digit deficits to defeat host Penn State (12-10, 5-6).

Trailing by 10 with 8:15 left, Morris and Hardaway sparked a 21-7 run to propel the Wolverines.

Penn State’s Talor Battle had 31 points.