COLUMBUS, Ohio — A ball that rattled around the rim and bounced out separated Michigan from its first No. 1 ranking in more than 20 years. Point guard Trey Burke’s step back jumper with 17 seconds went down, then came out, leaving No. 2 Michigan on the wrong side of a 56-53 loss to rival and 15th-ranked Ohio State on Sunday.
After No. 1 Duke lost to North Carolina State a day earlier, the Wolverines were in prime position to ascend to No. 1 for the first time since November 1992. Instead, they went home with their first loss, also depriving them of the best start in school history.
“Some go in and some don’t,” said Burke, a sophomore who is from Columbus and is friends with several of the Buckeyes. “I thought it was going in. It looked good. I think it went in and then came out.”
Michigan (16-1, 3-1 Big Ten) trailed 52-50 and had the ball as the seconds sifted away.
Aaron Craft - whom Michigan Coach John Beilein said was as good as any defender he had ever seen - prevented Burke from driving. His path blocked, Burke jumped back and then launched the shot.
“We were up two, so that makes it a little more challenging for me,” said Craft, selected as the Big Ten’s top defender a year ago. “Fortunately enough for me, that shot he took rimmed in and out.”
Ohio State’s Lenzelle Smith Jr. grabbed the rebound. A moment later he was fouled and hit two free throws for breathing room. Craft, who had struggled on offense most of the season, then made two more foul shots.
The Buckeyes had done most of their offensive damage early, following Burke’s opening three-pointer with a 16-0 run that was started and ended with baskets by Deshaun Thomas, who led the Buckeyes (13-3, 3-1) with20 points. From there on, it was just a matter of whether Ohio State - which had blown a late lead at Duke in November - could hold off the Wolverines, who came in averaging 81 points a game with four starters in double figures.
Burke led Michigan, which was trying to exceed the 16-0 start of the 1985-86 team, with 15 points. Tim Hardaway Jr. added 12.
EVANSVILLE 71, NO. 23 WICHITA STATE 67
EVANSVILLE, Ind. - Colt Ryan had 24 points and eight assists and Evansville made seven free throws over the final 1:25 to hold off No. 23 Wichita State on Sunday.
The Aces (11-6, 4-1 Missouri Valley Conference) took advantage of a season-high 22 turnovers by Wichita State (15-2, 4-1) to win their fourth consecutive conference game.
There were 16 lead changes and 13 ties in the game. The Shockers’ biggest lead was five points, while the Aces’ was six points. Evansville had a 27-9 advantage in points off turnovers.
Malcolm Armstead had a career-high 21 points for Wichita State.
NO. 22 MICHIGAN STATE 66, NEBRASKA 56
EAST LANSING, Mich. - Derrick Nix made two free throws with a minute left and finished with 17 points to help No. 22 Michigan State pull away for a victory over Nebraska on Sunday.
The Spartans (14-3, 3-1 Big Ten) have won three consecutive and kept the Cornhuskers (9-8, 0-4) from winning their first conference game this season.
Nebraska’s David Rivers, a Little Rock Hall graduate, had 18 points on 8-for-8 shooting, Dylan Talley scored 17 and Ray Gallegos added 12 points.
Spartans reserve Adreian Payne scored 14 points and Branden Dawson had 12 points.
The Huskers were without Brandon Ubel, who missed the game with an elbow injury. The 6-foot-10 senior is Nebraska’s leading rebounder and third leading scorer.
In other games, Aaron White had 17 points to help Iowa break a three-game Big Ten losing streak in a 70-50 victory over Northwestern in Evanston, Ill. Josh Oglesby had 14 points, and Melsahn Basabe added 10 for the Hawkeyes (12-5, 1-3). Dave Sobolewski had 14 points, and Tre Demps added 10 for the Wildcats (10-7, 1-3). ... Bryce Cotton scored 13 of his 23 points in the first half to lead Providence in a 67-55 victory over Seton Hall on Sunday. The Friars (9-5, 1-3 Big East) used a 22-5 first-half run to take control, with the help of LaDontae Henton’s 12 points and 13 rebounds. Fuquan Edwin led Seton Hall (12-5, 1-3) with 17 points.
Sports, Pages 16 on 01/14/2013