ANN ARBOR, Mich. – Jordan Morgan had 11 points and 11 rebounds, playing All-America forward Jared Sullinger to a virtual stalemate as No. 17 Michigan beat No. 6 Ohio State 56-51 on Saturday night to remain unbeaten at home.
Trey Burke scored 17 points and Tim Hardaway Jr. added 13 for the Wolverines (20-7, 10-4 Big Ten), who improved to 15-0 at the Crisler Center by snapping a six-game losing streak to their longtime rivals.
Deshaun Thomas had 25 points and 13 rebounds for Ohio State (22-5, 10-4). Sullinger scored 14 on 6-for-14 shooting.
The Buckeyes and Wolverines are both a half-game behind first-place Michigan State in the Big Ten standings.
With the Michigan student section revved-up in its "Maize Rage," the first half was a defensive struggle, with neither team able to break 40 percent from the floor. Ohio State's seven turnovers were the major difference — the Wolverines had only three while taking a 25-20 lead.
The Buckeyes missed all nine 3-point attempts in the first half, but Thomas knocked one down on Ohio State's first possession after the break.
Morgan, though, had a pair of fast-break dunks, both off long bounce passes from Burke, to give Michigan a 33-25 advantage. The lead got as big as 10 before three straight baskets by Sullinger pulled Ohio State within 42-38.
The Buckeyes couldn't get any closer than three, however, and Burke's layup made it 54-49 with 1:17 left. Burke blocked a shot at the other end, then missed the front end of a 1-and-1.
Aaron Craft made two free throws, but Burke ran the clock down to 11 seconds before hitting a game-clinching runner high off the backboard.
Burke also finished with five assists.
Ohio State finished 19 of 49 from the field (39 percent) and 3 of 16 (19 percent) from 3-point range. Thomas was the only player to connect from deep, going 3 for 6.
Michigan went 3 of 13 from beyond the arc, with Hardaway hitting both of his attempts.