Buckeyes stay in Big Ten hunt

Jamar Butler scored 22 points, Terence Dials had 19 and 16 rebounds and Je’Kel Foster 18 points to lead No. 19 Ohio State to a 69-53 victory over No. 10 Illinois on Sunday in Columbus, Ohio.

A year after ruining top-ranked Illinois’ perfect, 29-0 season on Matt Sylvester’s 3-pointer with 5.1 seconds left, the Buckeyes relied on their outside marksmanship and Dials’ muscle inside to win their fourth game in a row and remain in a virtual tie for first place in the Big Ten.

The Buckeyes hit 13 of 23 3-pointers three days after making 15 of 24 in a victory at No. 22 Michigan. It was the first time in five years they had beaten two ranked opponents in the same week.

Dee Brown scored 12 points to lead Illinois. James Augustine added 11 points – all in the first half – and 13 rebounds.

(9) West Virginia 69, (15) Georgetown 56: At Washington, Kevin Pittsnogle followed a scoreless game with 25 points for the Mountaineers. Pittsnogle made 10 of 15 shots and scored six of the first eight points in a 15-5 game-ending run as West Virginia snapped the Hoyas’ seven-game winning streak.

(14) Pittsburgh 89, Cincinnati 69: At Pittsburgh, Carl Krauser had 18 points and reserve Keith Benjamin scored a career-high 16 as the Panthers beat the Bearcats in the first Big East meeting between the schools.

Georgia Tech 71, (16) N.C. State 68: At Atlanta, reserve Zam Fredrick scored a career-high 22 points as the Yellow Jackets ended an eight-game losing streak. Fredrick hit a short jumper before the shot clock expired to push the lead to 71-65 with 1:03 left.

(23) North Carolina 80, Miami 70: At Coral Gables, Fla., Tyler Hansbrough scored 25 points and Bobby Frasor made two key jumpers late in the game to lead the Tar Heels to the win.