There's something about last-place Penn State that brings out the worst in No. 2 Ohio State. For the second time in eight days, the Buckeyes had all they could handle against the Big Ten's worst team before finally pulling out a 68-60 victory Wednesday night.

COLUMBUS, Ohio _ Michigan State had already spoiled the dream showdown on CBS on Sunday between No. 1 Wisconsin and No. 2 Ohio State with an upset of the Badgers on Tuesday night. The Buckeyes nearly got theirs Wednesday night.

By Mark Gokavi Staff Writer COLUMBUS -- When the Buckeyes were squeezed, they found their juice. The No. 3-ranked Ohio State men's basketball team trailed Purdue by five points with eight minutes left, concerning the crowd of 18,988 Saturday at the Schottenstein Center.

By Bob Baptist, The Columbus Dispatch, Ohio Feb. 11--No juice. No coffee, either. Mix in an early morning practice, a tipoff just past noon and a half-serving of Greg Oden and it was a recipe for a wake-up call at the least. The Ohio State men's basketball team was fortunate that's all it got.

By Bob Baptist, The Columbus Dispatch, Ohio Feb. 1--WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. -- Mike Conley Jr. is the best assist man in the Big Ten. Jamar Butler isn't far behind him. The hand they gave the Ohio State men's basketball team last night won't help their numbers.