Ohio State bosses California right out of the NIT, 73-56

Bruce Springsteen ended up being Ohio State’s sixth man.

Jamar Butler scored 20 points and spurred a 17-2 first-half run with three three-point baskets to lead Ohio State past California, 73-56, in an NIT second-round game on Monday night played before a raucous sellout crowd of 13,276 at 52-year-old St. John Arena in Columbus, Ohio.

“It was loud. The crowd got us going out there,” Butler said. “That’s what players want to do, to play in environments like this.”

The game was shifted to the old building the Buckeyes left a decade ago because Value City Arena, their current home, was booked for a concert by Springsteen and the E Street Band.

The Buckeyes (21-13), who were fifth in the Big Ten Conference, advance to host a quarterfinal game on Wednesday against Dayton (23-10), a 55-48 victor at Illinois State on Monday.

In other NIT games Monday, Bradley defeated Ohio, 79-73, and Virginia Tech defeated Alabama Birmingham, 75-49.

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Freshman guard O.J. Mayo received the Sam Barry Award as USC’s most valuable player at the team banquet held at the Galen Center. Mayo averaged 20.7 points and set a freshman season record with 684 points.

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Villanova center Casiem Drummond broke his right ankle in the Wildcats’ NCAA tournament second-round win over Siena and will miss the rest of the season.

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Vanguard (28-5) defeated Union, Tenn., 74-72, to advance to the championship game of the women’s NAIA at Jackson, Tenn. Vanguard will play Trevecca Nazarene (23-11) for the title tonight.