Late Night Snacks: Craft’s career day leads No. 18 Ohio State past No. 4 Michigan State

Game of the Day: Wagner 94, LIU Brooklyn 92

Most people were occupied with the Oscars, and they missed a thriller on Staten Island. A Kenneth Ortiz putback with eight tenths of a second remaining proved to be the difference as Wagner pulled into a tie for fourth place in the NEC with the Blackbirds. Jonathon Williams (20 points) and Mario Moody (19) led the way offensively for the Seahawks, while C.J. Garner paced LIU with 22 points, six assists and five rebounds.

Why is the result important? Home-court advantage in the NEC tournament goes to the higher seeded team, and Wagner’s victory not only keeps them in the race for fourth but it also moves them to within a game of Bryant and Quinnipiac (both 10-5) in the loss column.

Important Outcomes 

1. No. 18 Ohio State 68, No. 4 Michigan State 60

After losing by 22 at Wisconsin last Sunday the Buckeyes have won two in a row, using a second half run to beat the Spartans in Columbus. Deshaun Thomas shot 4-of-16 on the afternoon but Aaron Craft picked up the slack, scoring a career-high 21 points and dishing out six assists to lead the way. Adreian Payne scored 12 points and grabbed 15 rebounds and Gary Harris scored 14 points to lead Michigan State, but the Spartans really need Keith Appling to get untracked.

2. No. 7 Michigan 71, Illinois 58 

Trey Burke scored 26 points and dished out eight assists for the Wolverines, who completed a season sweep of the Fighting Illini. Jordan Morgan played just 17 minutes and didn’t attempt a shot for the Wolverines, but the big man played an important role in the victory defensively and on the glass (six rebounds). Three Illinois players scored ten points apiece, but their 7-of-22 shooting from beyond the arc and Michigan’s 51% shooting proved to be too much to overcome.

3. No. 25 Notre Dame 62, Cincinnati 41 

Notre Dame really wasn’t challenged at home, and Mike Brey’s team is in position to play for seeding in both the Big East and NCAA tournaments at this point. The same can’t be said for the Bearcats, who have lost five of their last six with games against Connecticut and Louisville next on the schedule. Cashmere Wright played just 23 minutes and Sean Kilpatrick struggled (3-of-13 FG) for the Bearcats, who won’t be successful if those two can’t get out of their current funk.

Starred 

1. G Tony Johnson (Lafayette) 

Johnson was outstanding in the Leopards’ 79-71 win over Lehigh, scoring 29 points on 10-of-12 shooting (5-of-5 3PT) and dishing out four assists.

2. G Trey Burke (Michigan) 

Burke was one of the difference-makers in the Wolverines’ 71-58 win over Illinois, accounting for 26 points (8-of-11 FG) and eight assists with just one turnover.

3. G Rasheed Sulaimon and F Mason Plumlee (Duke) 

Both Sulaimon and Plumlee played integral roles in the Blue Devils’ 89-66 win over Boston College. Sulaimon scored a career-high 27 points (10-of-15 FG), and Plumlee added 19 points (11-of-15 FT), 15 rebounds and four assists. Plumlee also became the ninth player in school history to eclipse the 1,000-point and 1,000-rebound marks in a career.

Struggled 

1. G Cashmere Wright (Cincinnati)

Wright played just 23 minutes in the Bearcats’ 62-41 loss at No. 25 Notre Dame, missing both of his shot attempts and going scoreless. The question for Cincinnati, who has lost five of its last six games: is Wright healthy?

2. G Keith Appling (Michigan State)

Appling found the going tough against No. 18 Ohio State on Sunday, shooting 1-of-6 from the field and finishing with three points, one assist and three turnovers in the 68-60 loss.

3. Northwestern

Thanks in part to injuries the Wildcats simply don’t have the horses needed to be competitive in this season’s Big Ten. In their 74-43 loss at Purdue the Wildcats shot 28.6% from the field and were out-rebounded 41-21.

Three Facts 

1. Stony Brook wrapped up at least a share of its third America East regular season title in the last four years, winning 69-53 at Maine. Steve Pikiell’s Seawolves can clinch the title outright on Thursday night at Boston University. Stony Brook did not enjoy the same luck when it comes to travel however, as the team bus broke down on the way back from the game. They’re slated to return to the Long Island campus on Monday.

Stony Brook bus broke down on way back from Maine. MBB team will return Monday afternoon—as AE top seed.—
steven marcus (@newsdaymarcus) February 25, 2013

2. Two teams that helped themselves by avoiding losses that would not help their NCAA tournament resumes: Temple and Virginia. The Owls won 71-51 at Charlotte, with Scootie Randall leading the way with 18 points and six rebounds. Virginia whipped Georgia Tech 82-54, avenging a loss in Atlanta earlier this season. Also, freshman forward Mike Tobey (seven points, four rebounds) made his return after missing the last five games due to a case of mononucleosis.

3. One team that did not help itself: St. John’s. The Red Storm shot 25.9% from the field in the second half of their 63-47 loss to No. 20 Pittsburgh, dropping to 16-11 overall and 8-7 in Big East play. With two of their final three games against Notre Dame and Marquette the Red Storm will have opportunities to improve their resume before the Big East Championship, and they need to take advantage.

Raphielle also writes for the NBE Basketball Report and can be followed on Twitter at @raphiellej.