Massachusetts' Shannon Crooks shoots over Ohio State's Terence Dials (34) and Zach Williams. (AP photo) | ZOOM |

        AMHERST, Mass. — Boban Savovic keyed an 11-2 run with back-to-back 3-pointers and Ohio State staved off a late University of Massachusetts surge to gain a 70-62 win Wednesday in the final nonconference game for both teams.

        UMass cut an 18-point deficit to five with 58 seconds to play before Ohio State saved the win from the foul line.

        “It's always a good thing to win on the road and it's not always easy,” OSU coach Jim O'Brien said. “We got careless in the backcourt against their press — maybe we should have used five guards instead of four.”

        Savovic scored a team-high 19 points as the Buckeyes, winners of their first two Big Ten games, lifted their overall record to 11-2.

        UMass, loser of six of its last eight, fell to 6-6 overall.
        OHIO ST. (11-2) — Williams 4-9 2-4 10, Radinovic 0-1 0-0 0, Darby 4-11 5-6 13, Brown 6-11 4-4 17, Savovic 5-10 6-9 19, Fuss-Cheatham 0-1 1-2 1, Connolly 0-3 2-4 2, Dials 3-3 1-3 7, Dudley 0-0 0-0 0, Martin 0-0 1-2 1. Totals 22-49 22-34 70.

        MASSACHUSETTS (6-6) — Jenkins 2-5 0-0 4, Blizzard 0-1 0-0 0, Williams 3-5 0-0 7,Wilson 1-5 0-0 3, Crooks 8-16 6-8 22, Anderson 1-4 0-0 3, Pugh 1-2 0-2 2, Rhymer 1-3 0-0 2, Lamb 1-2 2-2 4, Brand 6-18 1-2 15. Total 24-61 9-14 62.

        Halftime—Ohio St. 28, Massachusetts 18. 3-Point Goals—Ohio St. 4-10 (Savovic 3-6, Brown 1-1, Connolly 0-2, Darby 0-1), Massachusetts 5-17 (Brand 2-3, Wilson 1-4, Anderson 1-3, Williams 1-1, Jenkins 0-2, Crooks 0-2, Blizzard 0-1, Pugh 0-1). Fouled out—Lamb, Brand. Rebounds—Ohio St. 36 (Savovic, Connolly 5), Massachusetts 34 (Brand 9). Assists—Ohio St. 9 (Darby 4), Massachusetts 14 (Wilson 4). Technical fouls—none. Total Fouls—Ohio St. 16, Massachusetts 27. A—5,083.

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