COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) -Jamar Butler scored 20 points and spurred a 17-2 first-half run with three 3-pointers to lead Ohio State past California 73-56 in an NIT second-round game on Monday night.
The Buckeyes (21-13) were helped along by an emotional return to their old home court.
The game was contested before a capacity crowd of 13,276 at 52-year-old St. John Arena. The Buckeyes’ home court, Value City Arena, was hosting a concert by Bruce Springsteen on Monday night, so the game was shifted a few hundred yards away to where they played their home games a decade ago.
The Buckeyes, fifth in the Big Ten, advanced to host a quarterfinal game on Wednesday night against Dayton.
Dayton 55, Illinois St. 48
NORMAL, Ill. (AP) – Dayton went on a 17-0 second-half run to break open a close game en route to a victory over Illinois State.
Brian Roberts led Dayton (23-10) with 16 points.
The Flyers trailed 32-28 with 17:03 left before Illinois State (25-10) went more than 10 minutes without scoring. The Redbirds missed 12 straight shots before Dinma Odiakosa’s basket with 6:38 left ended the drought. Odiakosa led the Redbirds with 14 points.
Virginia Tech 75, UAB 49
BLACKSBURG, Va. (AP) – A.D. Vassallo scored 18 points as Virginia Tech came out strong and never looked back, beating UAB.
The Hokies (21-13) will play a quarterfinal game at home Wednesday against Mississippi.
Two baskets by J.T. Thompson, sandwiched around a pair of free throws by Hank Thorns, gave the Hokies a 23-point edge at 53-30 with 12:24 left to play. Virginia Tech stretched it to 28 with 3:33 to play, allowing the Hokies to empty their bench.
Tech forced 16 turnovers and scored 23 points off those Blazer miscues.
Up 17-7 just three minutes into the game, the Hokies ended the first half up 36-21. UAB’s offensive attack was hampered early by two fouls in the first 3:05 on leading scorer Robert Vaden, who shot just 1 for 9 from the floor before the break.
Vaden finished with nine points for the Blazers (23-11).
Mississippi 85, Nebraska 75, OT
OXFORD, Miss. (AP) – Zach Graham scored 10 of his 14 points in overtime and Mississippi beat Nebraska.
The Rebels (23-10) missed two shots at the end of regulation with the score tied at 70, but outscored the Cornhuskers (21-13) 15-5 in overtime to win.
Graham hit consecutive layups to make it 76-71 and the Rebels hit 7 of 9 free throws in the final 2 minutes to advance.
Chris Warren led Ole Miss with 18 points, Eniel Polynice scored 15 in his return from a knee injury, Kenny Williams had 14 points and Dwayne Curtis added 10.
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