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Final Score: Michigan 55 - Ohio State 66

Columbus, OH (Sports Network) - William Buford posted a game-high 24 points, with nine rebounds and four assists, as ninth-ranked Ohio State topped Michigan, 66-55, at Value City Arena.

Evan Turner had 18 points, 11 boards and seven assists for the Buckeyes (23-7, 13-4 Big Ten), winners of three in a row and nine of 10. Dallas Lauderdale added 14 points for the victors.

"I thought we got off to a good start. Michigan held the ball on us offensively in the first half and I thought our defense was a little impatient," said OSU head coach Thad Matta. "We had some careless turnovers, but I told our guys at halftime to continue to attack the basket. We executed pretty good and guys made big plays for us down the stretch."

DeShawn Sims posted 11 points and six rebounds for the Wolverines (13-15, 6-10), losers of three in a row and five of seven. Darius Morris and Zack Novak also had 11 points in a losing cause.

The Buckeyes made an early push in the first 6:48 of the second half, with a 13-4 run which gave them a 45-37 edge. Turner, who notched six points during the spurt, ended it with a layup.

A bucket from Lauderdale over a minute later pushed the advantage to 47-37, then after Morris banked in a three, a deuce by Buford and a slam from Lauderdale made it an 11-point game for OSU.

The Wolverines could only close their deficit to seven points, the last time coming with 4:14 to play on two free throws by Manny Harris.

David Lighty hit 1-of-2 from the line and hit an easy basket for a 66-53 Buckeyes edge with 1:13 to play and the outcome was sealed.

Ohio State stormed out of the gate with the first nine points and kept their rivals at arm's length until a charge later in the half.

Stu Douglass launched a three, and after two from the line by Sims with six minutes left, Michigan came within 23-19. Roughly two minutes later, Novak hit a three and followed with a layup off the break and Michigan was ahead 26-25.

The lead pinballed between the teams from there, but two free throws by Morris gave the Wolverines a 33-32 edge at the break.

"I would say that the first half today was one of our better performances, but Ohio State is just such a talented team," said Michigan head coach John Beilein. "There aren't a lot of people out there that can do what Evan Turner does where you can just give him the ball 17 feet from the hoop and he makes it happen. We tried to keep the ball out of his hands but Buford found too many shots as well."