NEW YORK, April 3 (UPI) -- Kosta Koufos scored 23 points Thursday and carried Ohio State to a 92-85 victory over Massachusetts in the title game of the National Invitation Tournament.
The Buckeyes' triumph came one year after they fell short against Florida in the championship game of the NCAA tourney.
Evan Turner scored 20 points, Jamar Butler had 19 and Othello Hunter added 17 for the Buckeyes (24-13), who won the NIT for the second time in school history.
Massachusetts (25-11) was playing in a post-season tournament title game for the first time. The Minutemen were led by Ricky Harris with 27 points. He made seven of 13 three-pointers.
The Minutemen staged a series of comebacks to reach the championship game. They trailed Akron by 12 in the second round, Syracuse by 22 in the quarterfinals and Florida by 10 in the semifinals.
The game was tied with 6:20 to play before Koufos gave Ohio State the lead for good with a three-pointer. Ohio State shot 63 percent from the field in the second half.
