’Canes fall to Buckeyes
Ohio State erased a 14-point second-half deficit Tuesday night, mounting the comeback after the ejection of Miami scoring leader Jack McClinton to beat the 21st-ranked Hurricanes 73-68.
Jon Diebler scored 20 points and Evan Turner had 19 for the Buckeyes (4-0), who won for only the second time in seven games in the ACC-Big Ten Challenge. Miami (4-2) fell to 0-3 in the series.
Miami led 36-21 late in the first half and 38-24 early in the second, but sorely missed McClinton. The senior guard was ejected for a flagrant foul midway through the first half after he took a swipe with the palm of his hand at Ohio State’s Anthony Crater, brushing his face.
The contact came almost immediately after Crater hit McClinton in the face while guarding him.
The Hurricanes were already without reserve guard Eddie Rios, suspended indefinitely Tuesday for a violation of team rules. With their backcourt depleted, Ohio State’s full-court pressure began to take a toll in the second half.
Miami committed turnovers on five consecutive possessions, allowing the Buckeyes to run off 13 straight points, six by Evan Turner, to cut the deficit to 38-37.
The Hurricanes rebuilt the margin to eight points before Ohio State made another charge.