Ohio State received a scare before the No. 23 Buckeyes held off visiting UMass Lowell 74-64 on Sunday in Youngstown, Ohio.

Duane Washington Jr. led the Buckeyes (2-0) with a career-high 21 points despite going 3-for-11 from the 3-point line.

However, Washington made a trey with 1:08 left in the game to give the Buckeyes a 70-63 lead to end hopes of an upset by the River Hawks (1-2).

Justice Sueing had 15 points, C.J. Walker 13 and E.J. Liddell 11 for Ohio State.

Obadiah Noel scored 15 points for the River Hawks. Allin Blunt and Bryce Daley each added 11.

The Buckeyes missed their first 11 3-pointers and finished 4-for-18 (22.2) percent. UMass Lowell made 11 of 30 (36.7 percent).

The score was tied at 59 when Liddell hit a jumper with 5:34 remaining, and Sueing followed with a fast break layup.

UMass Lowell last led 51-49 with nine minutes left but the Buckeyes moved ahead when Connor Withers fouled Sueing on a breakaway and was assessed a technical for his fifth foul. Walker made two free throws and Sueing hit his pair of foul shots for a 53-51 Ohio State lead.

The River Hawks had a 20-12 run to forge a 33-33 tie at halftime, completing the rally from down 21-13 with eight minutes left. Noel found Darion Jordan-Thomas cutting to the basket for a layup with one second left.

Because of a men's hockey game at Value City Arena, the teams played at the nearby Covelli Center, home to the Ohio State gymnastics, volleyball, and wrestling teams.

Ironically, while it was the first time the Buckeyes played in the two-year-old venue, the River Hawks lost 82-72 to Illinois State there less than 24 hours earlier.

The Buckeyes host Morehead State on Wednesday. UMass Lowell is home to Sacred Heart on Friday.

--Field Level Media