Freshman Zed Key made all five of his field-goal attempts and scored a career-high 14 points as No. 25 Ohio State defeated cold-shooting Nebraska 90-54 on Wednesday in Columbus, Ohio.
Justin Ahrens came off the bench to score 15 of his 18 points in the second half for the Buckeyes (8-2, 2-2 Big Ten). He made 6 of 9 shots from 3-point range.
Teddy Allen led the Cornhuskers (4-6, 0-3) with 13 points.
Nebraska shot 28.3 percent from the floor and was 5 of 33 (15.2 percent) shooting treys.
After the score was tied 13-13 when Allen made a 3-pointer with 13:15 left in the half, the Cornhuskers missed 17 of their next 18 shots to trail 38-21 at the break.
The Cornhuskers were 6 of 29 (20.2 percent) in the first half, including 3 for 16 (18.8 percent) from 3-point range.
Ohio State shot poorly at the onset by missing its first six 3-point tries but took advantage of the Huskers' scoring drought of more than seven minutes to score 15 unanswered points for a 28-13 lead.
The run was not unlike those Nebraska allowed in its first two Big Ten games against Wisconsin and Michigan. The difference was that a 16-0 run by the Badgers and the Wolverines' 10 straight points came in the second half.
Following a 3-pointer by Trey McGowens to pull Nebraska within 33-21, the Huskers did not score again over the final 3:01 of the first half.
Ohio State made a quick push after halftime with a 12-0 run to go ahead 54-26. That was soon followed by nine consecutive points for a 63-28 lead.
Ohio State played without starting guard Musa Jallow because of COVID-19 contact tracing.
The Huskers host No. 17 Michigan State on Saturday. Ohio State plays at No. 21 Minnesota on Sunday.
--Field Level Media
Nebraska | Ohio St. | |
Teddy Allen 13 | Scoring | Justin Ahrens 18 |
Teddy Allen 2 | Assists | Seth Towns 3 |
Dalano Banton 8 | Rebounds | Eugene Brown III 6 |
Teddy Allen 5 | Free Throws Made | Seth Towns 6 |
Thorir Thorbjarnarson 2 | Steals | Justin Ahrens 1 |
Dalano Banton 1 | Blocks | Eugene Brown III 2 |