No. 14 Ohio State 69, Northwestern 59: Deshaun Thomas scored 22 points and Lenzelle Smith Jr. added 12 as the Buckeyes pulled away late from the visiting Wildcats.

Sam Thompson scored 11 points and Amir Williams added 10 and eight rebounds for Ohio State (18-6, 8-4 Big Ten), which avoided its first three-game losing streak since February 2009.

Tre Demps scored 16 points and Kale Abrahamson chipped in 13 as Northwestern (13-12, 4-8) fell for the fourth time in the last five games. The Wildcats hit 11 3-pointers but were outrebounded 37-16.

Neither school managed to get more than a five-point edge in the second half but the Buckeyes appeared to be taking control when Thomas converted a three-point play and Thompson added a bucket to give them a 57-54 lead with 4:10 left.

Demps responded with a 3-pointer to knot it again but Thomas and Aaron Craft scored on back-to-back possessions to give Ohio State its biggest lead of the game at 61-57. Thompson broke free for two dunks in the final minute and Thomas added four free throws to put the game away.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Northwestern was without F Jared Swopshire (knee) and C Alex Olah (concussion). … The Buckeyes have now won 32 straight home games against the Wildcats dating to February 1977. … Ohio State struggled to 63.6 percent from the free-throw line.