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Thompson scores 16, hits 6 of 7 from field, No. 14 Ohio State beats Penn State 65-51

Associated Press
Published | Updated

Ohio State's Shannon Scott, left, works past Penn State's Jermaine Marshall, center, and Patrick Ackerman during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in State College, Pa., Saturday, Jan. 26, 2013. (AP Photo/Ralph Wilson) (The Associated Press)

Ohio State's Lenzelle Smith Jr. (32) works past Penn State's D.J Newbill (2) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in State College, Pa., Saturday, Jan. 26, 2013. (AP Photo/Ralph Wilson) (The Associated Press)

Sam Thompson scored 16 points on 6-of-7 shooting, and No. 14 Ohio State took advantage of cold-shooting Penn State in a 65-51 victory Saturday.

DeShaun Thomas added 11 points, well below his Big Ten-leading average of 20.5. Thompson picked up the slack against the Nittany Lions, who went 11-plus minutes of the first half without a field goal.

Ohio State (15-4, 5-2 Big Ten) gradually asserted control in the second half, though scrappy Penn State (8-12, 0-8) tried to hang around with defense and got within 10 points with 2:41 remaining.

Only the Nittany Lions couldn't stop Thompson. Left open in the corner, the lithe 6-foot-7 forward drove the baseline and contorted his body around 6-9 center Sasa Borovnjak for a layup, three-point play and 43-27 lead with about 13:30 left.

Jermaine Marshall had 16 points for the Nittany Lions, who have lost 18 straight to the Buckeyes.