COLLEGE BASKETBALL ROUNDUP : Jackson’s 26 Help Ohio State Win

Ohio State said goodby to five seniors Wednesday night. Did it also say goodby to a junior?

“I hope not,” Buckeye Coach Randy Ayers said when asked if Jim Jackson might have played his last game at Columbus, Ohio.

Jackson, rumored to be considering making himself available for the NBA draft, had 26 points and nine assists as the fifth-ranked Buckeyes defeated Illinois, 82-70, in a Big Ten game.

The victory gave Ohio State, 22-5 overall and 14-3 in the conference, a half-game lead in the Big Ten over fourth-ranked Indiana. The Hoosiers play Wisconsin tonight.

Jackson made eight of 13 shots--including three of five from three-point range--and all seven free throws. He also had five rebounds as the Buckeyes won their fifth in a row.

Seniors Chris Jent and Jamaal Brown added 14 and 11 points, respectively. Also playing their last home game were Mark Baker, Steve Hall and Bill Robinson.

Jackson has said that he intends to return for his senior year. But even Ayers has said that any decision made before the end of the season would be premature.

The Buckeyes built a 41-27 lead at the half by scoring 15 of the final 19 points while hitting eight consecutive shots from the field. Jackson and Alex Davis each had five points in the surge, with Brown capping it with a three-pointer at the buzzer.

Jackson had 14 points and five assists at the half.

Deon Thomas led Illinois (13-14, 7-10) with 21 points. Robert Bennett added 16 and Rennie Clemons 12 points and seven assists.

Illinois got as close as 43-34 after a 5-0 run early in the second half, but Ohio State scored 17 of the next 19 points.

Coach Lou Henson took Illinois to the Final Four three years ago, but said this Ohio State team is bigger and shot better than the 1989 Illini.

Ohio State made eight of 13 three-pointers to one of four for Illinois.

No. 14 Michigan 70, Purdue 61--Freshman Jalen Rose scored 11 of his 17 points in the second half of a Big Ten game at Lafayette, Ind. as the Wolverines reduced the Boilermakers’ already-slim chances of making the NCAA tournament.

Juwan Howard led Michigan (19-8, 10-7) with 18 points; Chris Webber added 12 and Rob Pelinka, a reserve, scored all of his personal-best 11 points in the second half.

Purdue (15-14, 7-10) was led by Woody Austin with 22 points. Cuonzo Martin scored 14 of his 16 in the second half.

Purdue closes out its regular season at home Sunday against Indiana and needs a victory to stay alive for an at-large berth in the NCAA tournament.

No. 16 Michigan State 66, Minnesota 57-- Mike Peplowski had 21 points and 11 rebounds as the Spartans (20-7, 10-7) avenged a loss to the Golden Gophers (16-14, 8-9) in a Big Ten game at East Lansing, Mich.

Peplowski scored nine points during a 16-0 run that finally ended when Jayson Walton made a tip-in with 7:39 remaining. The Gophers went scoreless for more than eight minutes during the streak.

The Spartans led, 55-47, with 1:13 left, but threw away two consecutive inbound passes, allowing Minnesota to pull within three with 53 seconds remaining.

But the Gophers then got a technical for calling a timeout they didn’t have, and the Spartans made four free throws to clinch the victory.

OTHER GAMES

Acie Earl scored 28 points and blocked five shots as Iowa beat Northwestern, 69-66, at Iowa City to keep the Wildcats winless in 55 consecutive Big Ten Conference road games.

The Hawkeyes beat Northwestern for the fourth time in a row. The Wildcats (8-19, 1-16) haven’t won in Iowa City in 19 seasons.

TOURNAMENTS

NORTH ATLANTIC

Alexander Coles scored 22 points as Delaware routed Drexel, 92-68, in the North Atlantic Conference championship game at Newark, Del. as the Blue Hens won their 20th game in a row and earned their first berth in the NCAA tournament.

Spencer Dunkley had 15 points and 14 rebounds for Delaware (27-3), which was never seriously challenged after opening a 38-28 halftime lead.

Armstrong and Michael Thompson each scored 20 points for Drexel (16-14).

NORTHEAST

Myron Walker scored 28 points as Robert Morris beat Marist, 85-81, at Coraopolis, Pa. in the Northeast Conference title game to earn a berth in the NCAA tournament.

Walker, the conference player of the year, hit 11 of 20 shots from the field and was perfect on four free-throw attempts.

Wade Timmerson added 13 points for the top-seeded Colonials (19-11). Joe Falletta had 12 and Rich Donnelly 11.

TRANS AMERICA

Dexter Abrams had 21 points and 14 rebounds as Georgia Southern beat Georgia State, 95-82, in the Trans America championship game at Statesboro, Ga.

Wendell Charles added 21 points, six assists and five steals for the Eagles (25-5), who earned their first NCAA tournament berth since 1987.