INDIANAPOLIS, March 11 (UPI) -- Jared Sullinger made 10 free throws in overtime Friday, allowing No. 1 Ohio State to get past Northwestern 67-61 in the Big Ten Tournament quarterfinals.
Sullinger finished with 20 points and 18 rebounds in getting the Ohio State Buckeyes (30-2) into a tournament semifinal Saturday against Michigan, which was a 60-55 winner over Illinois in its quarterfinal game Friday. The Northwestern Wildcats fell to 18-13.
The Wildcats had a good game plan against Ohio State, slowing the game down in a shot-clock era version of a stall. By taking the shot clock down to near zero, Northwestern was able to hold a narrow lead for much of the contest. That showed with a 3-point shot from Alex Marcotullio as the shot clock went off with 2:09 that put the Wildcats ahead 52-51.
Neither team scored until 60 seconds remained when Sullinger was fouled. He missed the first but made the second shot, tying the score. Both teams missed shots and the game went into overtime at 52-52.
Sullinger went 10-of-10 on free throws in the extra period, including two 19 seconds into overtime and his final two with 46 seconds to go that put the Buckeyes ahead 65-59.
Ohio State survived despite shooting 32 percent (19-of-59) from the floor. Sullinger was just 2-of-12 but hit 16-of-18 free throws. Aaron Craft added 17 for Ohio State.
John Surna paced Northwestern with 23 points.
