MICHST

OHIOST

Preview not available

Branham leads No. 23 Ohio State past Michigan State 80-69

AP
Mar 03, 2022

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) Malaki Branham scored 22 points and No. 23 Ohio State snapped a two-game losing streak with an 80-69 win over Michigan State on Thursday night.

Branham scored 15 points in the second half and finished 9 for 16 from the floor.

''We had to have some internal conversations about things we needed to do better,'' Ohio State coach Chris Holtmann said. ''I've not really doubted this group to respond this year.''

The Buckeyes (19-9, 12-7 Big Ten) made their first five shots and sped to a 13-0 lead in the first 2:47.

Michigan State (19-11, 10-9) rallied and closed within two points with 8:11 remaining in the first half.

Ohio State closed the opening period with a 16-8 run for a 43-33 lead at halftime. The Spartans never got closer than 10 points the rest of the way.

E.J. Liddell scored 19 points and Joey Brunk added 18 for Ohio State, while Jamari Wheeler finished with 16 points, tying his career high with four 3-pointers.

Gabe Brown led Michigan State with 13 points, and Marcus Bingham Jr. added 11.

The Spartans shot 45% from the field overall and 50% from 3-point range. They outrebounded the Buckeyes 30-26.

''I'm angry with the way we played,'' Michigan State coach Tom Izzo said. ''The start beat us, not the end. I'm not happy with how we played defensively. I'm not happy with our leadership right now.''

BRUNK'S BIG NIGHT

Brunk made his third start of the season and first since Nov. 24, 2021. He finished 7 of 10 from the field and finished well above his season average of 1.3 points.

He also reached new season highs with six rebounds and two steals.

''I feel confident getting the ball on the block,'' Brunk said. ''It's something I've done my whole life playing with my back to the basket and playing confident.''

CONNECTED ON BOTH ENDS

The Buckeyes forced the Spartans into 13 turnovers, which is the most for Michigan State in six games.

Ohio State also only surrendered four second-chance points despite getting beat 10-5 on the offensive glass. The Buckeyes shot above 50% in both halves, never trailing in the game.

''I just feel like everybody was playing with confidence,'' Liddell said. ''That was awesome to see.''

WHEELER'S HOT HAND

Wheeler finished the game 5 of 11 from the field, taking his most shot attempts in 14 games.

He knocked down all four 3-pointers in the first half and made both of his free throws late in the second half.

''He took a couple in transition maybe that were a little bit surprising to me,'' Holtmann said. ''He was in a good rhythm''

BIG PICTURE

Michigan State: The Spartans suffered their third loss to a ranked opponent in five games, and the seventh in nine games overall.

Ohio State: After consecutive losses in which they shot less than 38.6% from the field, the Buckeyes bounced back to shoot 54.7%, their best in 12 games.

''Sometimes when you press, you really try hard to win and you force the issue. It doesn't end up working out,'' Holtmann said. ''We made some open shots here today.''

UP NEXT

Michigan State: Hosts Maryland on Sunday.

Ohio State: Hosts Michigan on Sunday.

---

More AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball and https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll and https://twitter.com/AP-Top25

1st Half
MIST
Spartans
33
OSU
Buckeyes
43

Time		Play	Score
20:00		Julius Marble II vs. Joey Brunk (Buckeyes gains possession)
19:30	+3	Malaki Branham makes three point jump shot (E.J. Liddell assists)	0-3
19:16		Julius Marble II offensive foul (Eugene Brown III draws the foul)
19:16		Julius Marble II turnover
19:05	+3	E.J. Liddell makes three point jump shot (Malaki Branham assists)	0-6
18:43		Malik Hall misses three point jump shot
18:41		Joey Brunk defensive rebound
18:22	+2	E.J. Liddell makes two point jump shot	0-8
18:12		Joey Brunk personal foul (Julius Marble II draws the foul)
18:04		Gabe Brown misses two point jump shot
18:02		A.J. Hoggard offensive rebound
18:02		E.J. Liddell personal foul (Max Christie draws the foul)
18:02		A.J. Hoggard misses two point jump shot
18:00		Jamari Wheeler defensive rebound
17:44	+3	E.J. Liddell makes three point jump shot (Jamari Wheeler assists)	0-11
17:42		Spartans 30 second timeout
17:26		Malik Hall misses three point jump shot
17:24		Julius Marble II offensive rebound
17:19		Julius Marble II misses two point layup
17:17		Malaki Branham defensive rebound
17:13	+2	Eugene Brown III makes two point jump shot	0-13
17:00	+2	A.J. Hoggard makes two point layup	2-13
16:37		Julius Marble II blocks E.J. Liddell's two point layup
16:35		Malik Hall defensive rebound
16:27		A.J. Hoggard turnover (lost ball) (Malaki Branham steals)
16:01	+3	Jamari Wheeler makes three point jump shot (E.J. Liddell assists)	2-16
15:44	+2	Max Christie makes two point jump shot	4-16
15:22	+2	Joey Brunk makes two point turnaround jump shot	4-18
14:58	+2	Gabe Brown makes two point jump shot	6-18
14:38		E.J. Liddell misses three point jump shot
14:36		A.J. Hoggard defensive rebound
14:26		Max Christie misses three point jump shot
14:24		E.J. Liddell defensive rebound
14:22		Jump ball. E.J. Liddell vs. Julius Marble II (Spartans gains possession)
14:22		E.J. Liddell turnover (lost ball) (Julius Marble II steals)
14:22		TV timeout
14:13		Marcus Bingham Jr. misses two point jump shot
14:11		E.J. Liddell defensive rebound
14:05		Jamari Wheeler misses three point jump shot
14:03		Gabe Brown defensive rebound
13:35	+3	Jaden Akins makes three point jump shot (Tyson Walker assists)	9-18
13:16	+3	Jamari Wheeler makes three point jump shot (E.J. Liddell assists)	9-21
12:41	+2	Joey Hauser makes two point layup	11-21
12:14		Marcus Bingham Jr. blocks Jamari Wheeler's two point layup
12:12		Buckeyes offensive rebound
12:09		Marcus Bingham Jr. shooting foul (E.J. Liddell draws the foul)
12:09		E.J. Liddell misses regular free throw 1 of 2
12:09	+1	E.J. Liddell makes regular free throw 2 of 2	11-22
11:58		Cedric Russell shooting foul (Jaden Akins draws the foul)
11:58		TV timeout
11:58	+1	Jaden Akins makes regular free throw 1 of 2	12-22
11:58	+1	Jaden Akins makes regular free throw 2 of 2	13-22
11:45		Tyson Walker personal foul (Malaki Branham draws the foul)
11:43		Malaki Branham misses two point jump shot
11:41		Jaden Akins defensive rebound
11:33	+3	Joey Hauser makes three point jump shot (Tyson Walker assists)	16-22
10:58	+2	Joey Brunk makes two point jump shot	16-24
10:51		Jaden Akins misses two point jump shot
10:49		Julius Marble II offensive rebound
10:49		Justin Ahrens shooting foul (Julius Marble II draws the foul)
10:49		Julius Marble II misses regular free throw 1 of 2
10:49	+1	Julius Marble II makes regular free throw 2 of 2	17-24
10:33		E.J. Liddell turnover (traveling)
10:16		Joey Hauser misses two point jump shot
10:14		Cedric Russell defensive rebound
9:58		Eugene Brown III misses three point jump shot
9:56		Spartans defensive rebound
9:34	+3	Gabe Brown makes three point jump shot (Tyson Walker assists)	20-24
9:04	+3	E.J. Liddell makes three point jump shot	20-27
8:48	+2	Julius Marble II makes two point hook shot (Max Christie assists)	22-27
8:20		Malaki Branham misses three point jump shot
8:18		Max Christie defensive rebound
8:11	+3	Gabe Brown makes three point jump shot (Tyson Walker assists)	25-27
8:09		Buckeyes 30 second timeout
8:09		TV timeout
7:53	+2	Joey Brunk makes two point hook shot	25-29
7:34		Malik Hall turnover (lost ball) (Jamari Wheeler steals)
7:21		Joey Brunk turnover (lost ball) (A.J. Hoggard steals)
6:57		Joey Hauser turnover (bad pass)
6:41		Joey Hauser shooting foul (Joey Brunk draws the foul)
6:41	+1	Joey Brunk makes regular free throw 1 of 2	25-30
6:41	+1	Joey Brunk makes regular free throw 2 of 2	25-31
6:23		Max Christie misses two point jump shot
6:21		Malik Hall offensive rebound
6:21		Meechie Johnson Jr. personal foul (Malik Hall draws the foul)
6:21		Gabe Brown misses three point jump shot
6:19		Buckeyes defensive rebound
5:46		Joey Brunk misses two point hook shot
5:44		Malaki Branham offensive rebound
5:42	+2	Malaki Branham makes two point tip shot	25-33
5:17		Tyson Walker misses two point layup
5:15		E.J. Liddell defensive rebound
5:09	+3	Jamari Wheeler makes three point jump shot (Meechie Johnson Jr. assists)	25-36
4:44		Marcus Bingham Jr. misses two point hook shot
4:42		Malik Hall offensive rebound
4:42		E.J. Liddell personal foul (Malik Hall draws the foul)
4:38		Malik Hall misses two point hook shot
4:36		Marcus Bingham Jr. offensive rebound
4:34	+2	Marcus Bingham Jr. makes two point layup	27-36
4:17		Malaki Branham misses two point jump shot
4:15		Jaden Akins defensive rebound
4:08		Malik Hall turnover (lost ball) (Meechie Johnson Jr. steals)
4:01	+3	Jamari Wheeler makes three point jump shot (Malaki Branham assists)	27-39
3:43	+3	Marcus Bingham Jr. makes three point jump shot (A.J. Hoggard assists)	30-39
3:19	+2	Malaki Branham makes two point layup	30-41
2:59		Jaden Akins misses three point jump shot
2:57		Gabe Brown offensive rebound
2:56		Gabe Brown misses two point jump shot
2:54		Joey Brunk defensive rebound
2:36		Jamari Wheeler misses two point jump shot
2:34		A.J. Hoggard defensive rebound
2:29		TV timeout
2:14		A.J. Hoggard offensive foul (Jamari Wheeler draws the foul)
2:14		A.J. Hoggard turnover
1:48		Malaki Branham misses three point jump shot
1:46		Marcus Bingham Jr. defensive rebound
1:27	+3	Marcus Bingham Jr. makes three point jump shot (Max Christie assists)	33-41
1:02	+2	Joey Brunk makes two point jump shot	33-43
0:45		Joey Hauser misses three point jump shot
0:43		Joey Brunk defensive rebound
0:39		Eugene Brown III offensive foul (Joey Hauser draws the foul)
0:39		Eugene Brown III turnover
0:16		Max Christie misses two point jump shot
0:37		Joey Brunk defensive rebound
0:01		Meechie Johnson Jr. turnover (lost ball) (Gabe Brown steals)
0:00		End of period

2nd Half
MIST
Spartans
36
OSU
Buckeyes
37

Time		Play	Score
19:46	+2	E.J. Liddell makes two point jump shot (Malaki Branham assists)	33-45
19:40		Julius Marble II misses two point dunk
19:38		E.J. Liddell defensive rebound
19:32		E.J. Liddell misses three point jump shot
19:30		Julius Marble II defensive rebound
19:24		Gabe Brown turnover (traveling)
19:10	+2	Malaki Branham makes two point jump shot	33-47
18:47	+2	Malik Hall makes two point hook shot	35-47
18:16		Jamari Wheeler misses three point jump shot
18:14		Tyson Walker defensive rebound
17:54		Joey Brunk shooting foul (Malik Hall draws the foul)
17:54	+1	Malik Hall makes regular free throw 1 of 2	36-47
17:54	+1	Malik Hall makes regular free throw 2 of 2	37-47
17:37	+2	Joey Brunk makes two point jump shot	37-49
17:37		Julius Marble II shooting foul (Joey Brunk draws the foul)
17:37	+1	Joey Brunk makes regular free throw 1 of 1	37-50
17:16	+3	Max Christie makes three point jump shot (Gabe Brown assists)	40-50
16:57		Marcus Bingham Jr. personal foul (Joey Brunk draws the foul)
16:44	+2	Malaki Branham makes two point jump shot	40-52
16:40		Max Christie turnover (bad pass)
16:18		Marcus Bingham Jr. shooting foul (Joey Brunk draws the foul)
16:18		Joey Brunk misses regular free throw 1 of 2
16:18	+1	Joey Brunk makes regular free throw 2 of 2	40-53
16:01		Malik Hall turnover (bad pass) (Joey Brunk steals)
15:47		TV timeout
15:38		E.J. Liddell misses two point turnaround jump shot
15:36		Joey Hauser defensive rebound
15:22		Max Christie turnover (lost ball) (Joey Brunk steals)
15:13	+2	Malaki Branham makes two point layup	40-55
14:54	+3	Tyson Walker makes three point jump shot (Gabe Brown assists)	43-55
14:32	+3	Cedric Russell makes three point jump shot	43-58
14:06	+2	Tyson Walker makes two point floating jump shot	45-58
13:39		Mady Sissoko personal foul (Joey Brunk draws the foul)
13:29	+2	Joey Brunk makes two point reverse layup	45-60
13:03		A.J. Hoggard misses three point jump shot
13:01		E.J. Liddell defensive rebound
12:48		Joey Brunk misses two point turnaround jump shot
12:46		Spartans defensive rebound
12:24	+2	A.J. Hoggard makes two point driving layup	47-60
11:58		E.J. Liddell misses two point jump shot
11:56		Max Christie defensive rebound
11:48		Justin Ahrens personal foul (A.J. Hoggard draws the foul)
11:48		TV timeout
11:44		Max Christie misses two point jump shot
11:42		E.J. Liddell defensive rebound
11:23		Cedric Russell turnover (bad pass)
11:09		Eugene Brown III shooting foul (Malik Hall draws the foul)
11:09		Malik Hall misses regular free throw 1 of 2
11:09		Malik Hall misses regular free throw 2 of 2
11:09		Justin Ahrens defensive rebound
10:38		Jamari Wheeler misses three point jump shot
10:36		E.J. Liddell offensive rebound
10:29	+2	Jamari Wheeler makes two point driving layup	47-62
10:13		Joey Hauser misses three point jump shot
10:11		Meechie Johnson Jr. defensive rebound
10:03		Meechie Johnson Jr. misses three point jump shot
10:01		Joey Hauser defensive rebound
9:55	+2	A.J. Hoggard makes two point driving layup	49-62
9:55		Jamari Wheeler shooting foul (A.J. Hoggard draws the foul)
9:55		A.J. Hoggard misses regular free throw 1 of 1
9:55		Joey Brunk defensive rebound
9:29		Joey Hauser personal foul (Joey Brunk draws the foul)
9:19		Malaki Branham misses two point pullup jump shot
9:17		Joey Hauser defensive rebound
8:52		Max Christie misses three point jump shot
8:50		Jamari Wheeler defensive rebound
8:46		Meechie Johnson Jr. turnover (out of bounds)
8:36	+2	Gabe Brown makes two point jump shot	51-62
8:07		Joey Hauser shooting foul (E.J. Liddell draws the foul)
8:07	+1	E.J. Liddell makes regular free throw 1 of 2	51-63
8:07	+1	E.J. Liddell makes regular free throw 2 of 2	51-64
7:50		Gabe Brown turnover (lost ball) (Malaki Branham steals)
7:50		TV timeout
7:37	+2	Malaki Branham makes two point driving layup	51-66
7:16	+2	Marcus Bingham Jr. makes two point jump shot	53-66
6:54		Joey Brunk turnover (traveling)
6:41		Tyson Walker turnover (lost ball) (Meechie Johnson Jr. steals)
6:34		Jamari Wheeler misses three point jump shot
6:32		Tyson Walker defensive rebound
6:26	+3	Gabe Brown makes three point jump shot (Tyson Walker assists)	56-66
5:59		Jaden Akins blocks Malaki Branham's two point jump shot
5:57		Buckeyes offensive rebound
5:53		Malaki Branham misses two point jump shot
5:51		Malaki Branham offensive rebound
5:50		Jaden Akins personal foul (Malaki Branham draws the foul)
5:50	+1	Malaki Branham makes regular free throw 1 of 2	56-67
5:50		Malaki Branham misses regular free throw 2 of 2
5:50		Marcus Bingham Jr. defensive rebound
5:38		Jaden Akins misses two point jump shot
5:36		Joey Brunk defensive rebound
5:11	+2	Malaki Branham makes two point jump shot	56-69
4:57		Jamari Wheeler shooting foul (Tyson Walker draws the foul)
4:57	+1	Tyson Walker makes regular free throw 1 of 2	57-69
4:57	+1	Tyson Walker makes regular free throw 2 of 2	58-69
4:31	+2	E.J. Liddell makes two point jump shot	58-71
4:31		Tyson Walker shooting foul (E.J. Liddell draws the foul)
4:31	+1	E.J. Liddell makes regular free throw 1 of 1	58-72
4:23		Joey Brunk personal foul (Tyson Walker draws the foul)
4:21	+2	Max Christie makes two point jump shot (Tyson Walker assists)	60-72
4:02	+2	Malaki Branham makes two point driving dunk	60-74
3:53		Spartans 30 second timeout
3:53		TV timeout
3:40		Tyson Walker misses two point driving layup
3:38		Spartans offensive rebound
3:39		TV timeout
3:30		Tyson Walker misses two point step back jump shot
3:27		Spartans offensive rebound
3:26		Gabe Brown misses two point jump shot
3:24		Malaki Branham defensive rebound
3:09		E.J. Liddell turnover (traveling)
2:53		E.J. Liddell blocks Tyson Walker's two point jump shot
2:51		Marcus Bingham Jr. offensive rebound
2:51		Jamari Wheeler shooting foul (Marcus Bingham Jr. draws the foul)
2:51		Marcus Bingham Jr. misses regular free throw 1 of 2
2:51	+1	Marcus Bingham Jr. makes regular free throw 2 of 2	61-74
2:24		Joey Brunk misses two point hook shot
2:22		Marcus Bingham Jr. defensive rebound
2:14		Joey Brunk shooting foul (Jaden Akins draws the foul)
2:14		Jaden Akins misses regular free throw 1 of 2
2:14	+1	Jaden Akins makes regular free throw 2 of 2	62-74
1:54	+2	Joey Brunk makes two point dunk (Malaki Branham assists)	62-76
1:42		Jamari Wheeler personal foul (Joey Hauser draws the foul)
1:42	+1	Joey Hauser makes regular free throw 1 of 2	63-76
1:42	+1	Joey Hauser makes regular free throw 2 of 2	64-76
1:38		Jamari Wheeler turnover (lost ball)
1:32		Tyson Walker turnover (lost ball)
1:32		Buckeyes 30 second timeout
1:28		Tyson Walker personal foul (Malaki Branham draws the foul)
1:28	+1	Malaki Branham makes regular free throw 1 of 2	64-77
1:28	+1	Malaki Branham makes regular free throw 2 of 2	64-78
1:10	+2	Pierre Brooks makes two point floating jump shot	66-78
1:10		Eugene Brown III shooting foul (Pierre Brooks draws the foul)
1:10	+1	Pierre Brooks makes regular free throw 1 of 1	67-78
1:05		A.J. Hoggard personal foul (Jamari Wheeler draws the foul)
1:05	+1	Jamari Wheeler makes regular free throw 1 of 2	67-79
1:05	+1	Jamari Wheeler makes regular free throw 2 of 2	67-80
0:56		Eugene Brown III blocks Joey Hauser's two point layup
0:54		E.J. Liddell defensive rebound
0:32		E.J. Liddell misses three point pullup jump shot
0:30		Max Christie defensive rebound
0:18	+2	Joey Hauser makes two point layup	69-80
0:00		End of period

+ 2

Joey Hauser makes two point layup