Ohio State ended 2013 with a perfect 14-0 record and started their Big Ten campaign with a 78-69 win over Purdue Tuesday afternoon.With time winding down on the year, the Buckeyes traveled to West Lafayette, Indiana to quiet the 13,000+ partisan crowd, dropping the Boilermakers to 10-4 on the season.
Junior forward LaQuinton Ross had his best game of the season, scoring 25 points to go with 12 rebounds, his third straight double-double and fourth of the year. Ross set a career-high in scoring, hitting eight of 17 from the field and nine of 11 from the charity stripe. Five of his 12 rebounds were of the offensive variety, though despite his work on the boards, the Buckeyes were badly out-rebounded by Purdue, 46-37. Center A.J. Hammonds accounted for 16 of Purdue's rebounds, to go with his 18 points, which paced the Boilermakers.
The Buckeyes are ranked #3 in the latest AP poll, behind Arizona and Syracuse. The win was just their second on the road this season. On November 16, Ohio State trampled Marquette, 52-35.
Ohio State hosts Nebraska on January 4th. On the 7th, they travel to play at #5 Michigan State.
