Buckeyes Fend Off Umass for NIT Title

Basketball

By Associated Press
April 4, 2008

A year removed from a loss in the national title game, Ohio State has a championship trophy to carry home.

Never mind that it's from the NIT. Jamar Butler and his buddies couldn't care less.

Butler had 19 points and eight assists in his final college game, leading the Buckeyes to a 92–85 win over Massachusetts last night and prompting the victory celebration inside Madison Square Garden that they couldn't have last year in Atlanta.

The Buckeyes lost to Florida in the Final Four, but never dwelled on a snub by the NCAA selection committee that kept them from playing for another trip there. They dominated each of their four opponents on the way to New York, then had enough at the end to withstand every run the Minutemen could muster.

"This is continuing a rebuilding of the program," Ohio State coach Thad Matta said. "It feels good after what we went through last season."

Kosta Koufos added 22 points in earning the tournament's most outstanding player award. Evan Turner finished with 20 for the Buckeyes (24–13), who reached the preseason NIT title game but were run out of the Garden by Texas A&M.

Ricky Harris scored 27 for UMass (25–11), hitting three 3-pointers in the closing minutes to help the Minutemen stay close.