Minnesota bounces back
This is the way coach Tubby Smith wanted Minnesota to rebound.
Three days after a humbling defeat to 10th-ranked Michigan State, the Gophers got another chance against a Top 25 team. They went after the ball with gusto, got their shots to fall, and sent an outhustled Ohio State home furious.
Lawrence Westbrook led a typically balanced offense with 15 points, and No. 21 Minnesota salvaged a split in the opening week of Big Ten play by beating the 24th-ranked Buckeyes 68-59 on Saturday in Minneapolis.
"It feels good," Westbrook said. "I wouldn't say we were, like, depressed about the last game, but we were a little down. We knew Ohio State was a good team, so once we won this game I think it just builds up our confidence."
The Gophers (13-1, 1-1 Big Ten) went 8-for-20 from 3-point range; Westbrook was 3-for-5.
The lack of pressure on the shooters, plus the occasional lapse that left a would-be dunker wide open on a backdoor cut, had the Buckeyes (10-2, 1-1) steamed.
"Hats off to Minnesota, but we lost this game on ourselves," said Evan Turner, who had 21 points and 8 rebounds.
Dearly missing junior guard David Lighty, his contagious energy and his 10 points per game, Ohio State made a late charge but trailed by 7 or more for the last 16 minutes.
Iowa 65, Indiana 60: Cyrus Tate scored a season-high 22 points and grabbed 11 rebounds as Iowa (11-4, 1-1 Big Ten) held off Indiana, spoiling Hoosiers coach Tom Crean's Big Ten debut. Jeff Peterson added 16 points for the Hawkeyes, who improved to 9-0 at home despite nearly blowing a 13-point second-half lead.
Indiana (5-8, 0-1) went on a late 10-2 run to close within 62-60 with 22.4 seconds left. But Peterson hit 2 free throws and Andrew Brommer had a late steal to seal the win for Iowa.
Wisconsin 65, Penn St. 61: Marcus Landry scored 23 points to lead host Wisconsin (11-3, 2-0) past Penn State (12-3, 1-1). The victory extended the Badgers' winning streak over the Nittany Lions to nine games.
Wisconsin couldn't shake Penn State but found some breathing room at 59-54 with less than two minutes left after Joe Krabbenhoft hit 2 free throws. Penn State's Jamelle Cornley converted a 3-point play, and Stanley Pringle countered a pair of Trevon Hughes free throws with a 3-pointer to make it 61-60.
Landry then hit a turnaround jumper, and Penn State's Talor Battle hit just 1 of his next 2 free throws with 13 seconds left. Landry hit a final dunk after Wisconsin avoided Penn State's attempt to foul.
Bradley 63, Missouri St. 57: Chris Roberts scored 14 second-half points to help Bradley (9-5, 3-0 Missouri Valley) survive a rally by host Missouri State (7-7, 0-3). Bradley held Missouri State to 1 field goal over the last 8:12, a 3-pointer by Kyle Weems with 1:58 that gave the Bears a 57-56 lead. Missouri State did not score again.
E. Illinois 78, Jacksonville St. 69: Tyler Laser scored 22 points to lead Eastern Illinois (5-8, 2-1 Ohio Valley) over host Jacksonville State (7-4, 1-1). Laser shot 5-for-10 from the floor, including 3-for-5 from 3-point range. The Panthers also received a boost from Billy Parrish and T.J. Marion, who scored 15 apiece.