No. 18 Ohio State 71, Minnesota 45: Deshaun Thomas scored 19 points and a huge second-half run lifted the host Buckeyes past the Golden Gophers.

Ohio State (19-7, 9-5 Big Ten) easily pulled away from Minnesota (18-9, 6-8). Leading 39-31 with 13:07 remaining, the Buckeyes scored 16 consecutive points to open a 53-31 lead.

Andre Hollins scored 11 points to lead the Golden Gophers, who shot 29.2 percent from the field.

After trading blows over the opening 20 minutes, Ohio State blew the game open in the second half. Thomas and Shannon Scott each scored six points during the run, and the Buckeyes pushed the lead to 30 in the final minutes.

Scott posted 11 points, five assists, three steals and three blocks off the bench while LaQuinton Ross added 10 points for Ohio State.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Minnesota narrowly avoided a season-low point total; The Gophers were held to 44 points against Wisconsin on Jan. 26. … Ohio State came close to matching the biggest win in series history – a 31-point rout in 1992. … The Gophers committed 21 turnovers.