Hoosiers fall in potential bubble buster

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- When the IU basketball team leaves the state of Indiana, they can't win a game.\nComing into Tuesday's game at Ohio State, the Hoosiers hadn't won outside of the state in more than a year. That stretch continued as IU dropped a 57-44 contest in Columbus' Value City Arena as the Buckeyes capitalized on an 18-4 second half run for the victory. The defeat was IU's 10th consecutive outside of Indiana -- the last win at Penn State on Feb. 11, 2004. \nThe loss drops IU to 11-11 overall, 6-5 in the Big Ten, and adds even more pressure for Sunday's game at Michigan as the Hoosiers' NCAA Tournament hopes waver.\nIU coach Mike Davis said he was proud of the Hoosiers' defensive effort -- holding the Buckeyes to 38 percent from the field. \n"That's what you want to do on the road in an opposing gym," Davis said. "It gives yourself a chance to win. (But) we only shot three free throws the whole game. We've got to start drawing more fouls."\nWith the win, Ohio State improved to 18-8 overall, 7-5 Big Ten. The Buckeyes only committed eight personal fouls compared to the Hoosiers' 15. Neither team scored a fast-break point.\nAfter IU recovered from a five-point second half deficit to gain a three-point lead, 36-33, with 10 minutes left, Ohio State went on an 18-4 run for the going-away victory. \nDuring the run, Ohio State's J.J. Sullinger scored 10 points and Terence Dials had seven. The Buckeye run countered an IU 14-4 stretch that started the second half and earned the Hoosiers a three-point lead. \nDavis said fatigue played a factor in the final eight minutes of the game when the Buckeyes mounted their run. Freshman Robert Vaden, freshman D.J. White and junior Marshall Strickland each played more than 35 minutes.\n"I've got to make a better substitution pattern down the stretch of the game to get guys rest," Davis said. "I played Vaden 20 minutes in the first half, which was probably a mistake. He was just so exhausted."\nVaden scored 10 first-half points but only had four second-half points, and those came on one possession as the freshman hit a three-pointer, got fouled and sunk the free throw for IU's last basket of the game. Vaden said fatigue bothered him a little bit in the second half but more importantly, he said, the team lost its intensity.\n"We didn't fight the last 10 minutes of the game," Vaden said. "I thought it was a winnable game. I felt like we just gave it away the last 10 minutes of the game."\nTrailing 27-22 at half, IU looked inside to White to get the Hoosiers back on top. White did just that as he scored nine points in the first nine minutes of the second half to put IU ahead, 36-33. During that stretch, White also drew Dials third foul.\nThe Buckeyes took the Hoosiers counter punch and hit back. After sitting four minutes, Dials came back in with 10 minutes left and helped the Buckeyes engineer the 18-4 run. \nSullinger scored 14 second half points including 10 during the Buckeyes' decisive run. Sullinger scored 17 for the game -- sharing game-high totals with White's 17.\n"(Sullinger) was making some crazy stuff," Vaden said. "I guess he was just feeling it tonight. Everything he shot went for him."\nThe Buckeyes held the advantage for most of the first half on the strength of their three-point shooting as Ohio State hit five three-pointers for a 27-22 halftime lead.\nJunior Bracey Wright dressed for the game but did not play with a sprained ankle. Davis said he doubts if Wright will play Sunday.\nThat news adds more pressure for the young Hoosiers, who started four freshmen for the third straight game. With an 11-11 record and five regular season games remaining, the Hoosiers know the heat is on for Sunday's game at Michigan if the Hoosiers' want to get into the tournament.\n"We gave this game away," White said. "There's nothing we can do about it now. We've just got to get ready for Michigan. It's a must win game."\n-- Contact Staff Writer John Rodgers at jprodger@indiana.edu.