COLUMBUS — This was a fitting way for Aaron Craft to close out his final home game.
The hard-nosed point guard led Ohio State’s voracious defense down the stretch — even diving for a big
rebound in the final 25 seconds — helping the Buckeyes rally past No. 22 Michigan State 69-67 on Sunday.

“Probably the poetic justice way to end the game was the way he did it,” Michigan State coach Tom Izzo
said. “I give him a lot of credit for that.”
A lot of Buckeyes made big plays down the stretch as the Spartans went scoreless for the final 4:30. Ohio
State (23-8, 10-8 Big Ten) scored the final four points.
The Spartans (23-8, 12-6) had the ball with the game tied at 67, but Adreian Payne lost it to Craft with
just over a minute left for Michigan State’s 16th turnover. Payne finished with 23 points.
Shannon Scott’s 14-foot jumper went in and out, but Ohio State’s Amir Williams — a Michigan native — was
fouled on the rebound. The junior, a target for fans who are critical of what they believe is lethargic
play, hit the second of two free throws with 37.2 seconds remaining.
Izzo called a timeout to draw up a play, but it was the Buckeyes who drew up a better one.
“We drew the play that they ran against Wisconsin; we actually went through it at shootaround today,”
Ohio State coach Thad Matta said. “It was like, ‘Chances are, fellas, they might try to run this
again.”’
With Williams stuck inside on a screen, athletic Sam Thompson took two quick steps to close quickly,
applying pressure to the 6-foot-10 Payne on a 3-pointer with 27 seconds left.
“I had to adjust my shot in the air and it came up short,” said Payne, an Ohio native who played AAU ball
on the same team with Craft and former Buckeye Jared Sullinger.
With the ball bounding loose, Craft went to the floor to control it like a defensive back pouncing on a
fumble. The senior was tied up on the play, but the possession arrow favored the Buckeyes with 24.8
seconds remaining.
Craft, who has suffered through a poor shooting year, then was fouled with 20.9 seconds left. He clanked
the first but made the second for his 12th point.
The Buckeyes were 19 of 31 at the line for the game. They made two of six foul shots over the final 90
seconds, with Craft’s free throw pushing the lead to two.
Gary Harris, who scored 12 points for Michigan State, grabbed the rebound and dribbled to the other end
but his off-balance attempt with 2 seconds left was off. Payne crashed the boards but Lenzelle Smith
Jr., Ohio State’s only other senior, tipped the ball away just before the buzzer sounded.
“I just wanted to keep (Harris) from getting to the basket and try to contest his shot as much as
possible,” Craft said. “He got a move, got a shot off, and luckily it was short and Lenzelle did a
phenomenal job of tipping the ball so Adreian couldn’t tip-dunk it to make it go into overtime.”
LaQuinton Ross had 22 points for the Buckeyes, who had lost their last two games.
Both Ohio State and Michigan State are headed for the Big Ten tournament this week, and then will move on
to the NCAA tourney.
Denzel Valentine added 11 points for the Spartans (23-8, 12-6), who have lost seven of 11.
Izzo was upset that Michigan State was called for 22 personal fouls to 12 against the Buckeyes. The
Spartans were hamstrung by foul trouble all game; Harris, Valentine and Keith Appling each finished with
four fouls.
But for most of the game, it was Ohio State which took the ball inside or drove to the hoop.
“I didn’t like the way all my guys were on the bench,” Izzo said. “I didn’t like the way we were playing,
afraid to foul and afraid to move. We scored enough points to win, we shot well enough to win. They
drove the ball and we couldn’t keep them in front of us. But I’ve got two of my best defenders on the
bench. There were some bright spots, but a disappointing loss.”
Craft had four steals to give him 328, breaking a tie with Illinois’ Bruce Douglas to become the Big
Ten’s career leader.
“I’m not worried about how I’m going to be remembered,” he said. “It’s all (about) moving forward. This
is how we need to continue to play down the stretch. This needs to be our calling card.”