Buckeyes begin Big Ten play at home against Hawkeyes

NCAA Basketball Betting Lines

12/31/2008 - Columbus, OH (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Big Ten play begins for the 24th-ranked Ohio State Buckeyes and the Iowa Hawkeyes tonight, as they duel at Value City Arena in Columbus.

The Buckeyes enter the tilt looking to rebound from their first loss of the season, as they were handled by West Virginia, 76-48, on Saturday. The setback snapped OSU's 14-game win streak, which had been the longest in the nation, and marked its worst home defeat since dropping a 107-75 decision to Purdue in 1998. OSU, which had won its last 54 games in Columbus against unranked teams, now turns its focus to the Big Ten, where it finished 10-8 a season ago.

As for Iowa, it took care of business in its final tuneup before league play, posting a 58-43 victory over Western Illinois on Saturday. It was the fourth win in the past five outings for the Hawkeyes, who improved to 10-3 on the year. Iowa will now try to carry its success over into Big Ten action after logging just a 6-12 record last season.

The Hawkeyes and Buckeyes split a pair of meetings on the hardwood last season, leaving Iowa with a 75-68 advantage in the head-to-head series.

Iowa clamped down on defense over the weekend, holding Western Illinois to a dismal 34.0 percent shooting effort from the floor in a 58-43 victory. The Hawkeyes made good on 46.2 percent of their field goal tries and they also went a solid 17-of-22 at the foul line. Jermain Davis and Jake Kelly each tallied 13 points in the win, while Matt Gatens notched a double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds. Anthony Tucker, the team's leading scorer (13.0 ppg) on the year, however, didn't play due to a "coach's decision." Gatens ranks second to Tucker with 10.2 ppg on the season and he is also shooting an efficient 52.5 percent from the long range. As a team, Iowa is hitting on 47.3 percent of its attempts from the floor and 40.2 percent from three-point range for an average of 64.6 ppg.

In a simply dreadful shooting performance, OSU went a horrific 31.0 percent from the floor, including a poor 2-of-18 showing from three-point range, as it was downed by WVU on Saturday. The team didn't fared all that well at the foul line either, converting on just 10-of-19 chances. William Buford and Jeremie Simmons each netted 11 points, and Evan Turner had a double-double of 10 points and 11 boards in the setback. On the season, Turner is the only player for OSU averaging in a double figures, with 16.2 ppg, and he also leads the team with 7.2 rpg and 27 steals. The Buckeyes as a whole, have made their presence felt on defense, limiting foes to just 55.8 ppg and a only 37.7 percent shooting from the floor.

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