By: Angelique S. Chengelis (The Detroit News) — Columbus, Ohio — If only Michigan could have played Ohio State minus Evan Turner.

And William Buford.

And Dallas Lauderdale.
The ninth-ranked Buckeyes had too much firepower this time for the Wolverines, as they won handily, 66-55, on Saturday afternoon at Value City Arena to split the regular-season series.

Michigan, which had beaten Ohio State in early January while Turner, a national player of the year favorite, was sidelined with an injury, has lost three straight with two regular-season game remaining before the Big Ten tournament.

The Wolverines are 13-15, 6-10 Big Ten, while Ohio State is 23-7, 13-4.

Michigan, which has had trouble shooting the last three games, failed to make a field goal in the final 7:27 of the game. The Wolverines also did not get their usual production from leading scorer Manny Harris. Harris was 1-of-8 from the field, including 0-of-5 from the 3-point line, and finished with 10 points. Sophomore Zack Novak, senior DeShawn Sims and freshman Darius Morris each scored 11 to lead Michigan, but Novak’s points all came in the first half. Stu Douglass added 10.

Buford led the Buckeyes with 24 points, Turner had 18 points and four blocks, and Lauderdale scored 14.

The Buckeyes trailed 33-32 after the first half, but they quickly regained the momentum and lead, building an eight-point lead on a 9-2 run before Michigan took a timeout with 13:11 left.

Ohio State never looked back.

Michigan got a first-half boost from Novak and Douglass, who have struggled much of this season. The two sophomores combined to go 6-of-9 from the field, including 4-of-6 from the 3-point line, helping the Wolverines to a 33-32 halftime lead.

Novak led the team with 11 first-half points.

Ohio State led by as many as nine points in the first half, but with 5:20 left, Michigan went on a 7-0 run, including back-to-back baskets by Novak to cut the deficit to one point, 27-26. After Ohio State scored to bump the lead to three, Douglass hit his second 3-pointer of the game to tied the game at 29. Darius Morris’ two free throws with less than a minute left gave Michigan the halftime lead.

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