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No. 1 Ohio State pulls away from Michigan 68-61

By Associated Press
SHARE No. 1 Ohio State pulls away from Michigan 68-61
Ohio State guard Jon Diebler talks to referee Ted Valentine in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Michigan in the semifinals of the Big Ten Conference tournament in Indianapolis, Saturday, March 12, 2011.

Ohio State guard Jon Diebler talks to referee Ted Valentine in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Michigan in the semifinals of the Big Ten Conference tournament in Indianapolis, Saturday, March 12, 2011.

Michael Conroy, Associated Press
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Ohio State guard Aaron Craft goes up for a layup in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Michigan in the semifinals of the Big Ten Conference tournament in Indianapolis, Saturday, March 12, 2011.

Ohio State guard Aaron Craft goes up for a layup in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Michigan in the semifinals of the Big Ten Conference tournament in Indianapolis, Saturday, March 12, 2011.

Michael Conroy, Associated Press
2 of 11
Michigan guard Darius Morris (4) is warned by by referee Ed Hightower and head coach John Beilein after mouthing off to the opponent bench in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Ohio State in the semifinals of the Big Ten Conference

Michigan guard Darius Morris (4) is warned by by referee Ed Hightower and head coach John Beilein after mouthing off to the opponent bench in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Ohio State in the semifinals of the Big Ten Conference tournament in Indianapolis, Saturday, March 12, 2011.

Michael Conroy, Associated Press
3 of 11
Ohio State guard Jon Diebler (33) goes up for a shot against Michigan forward Jordan Morgan (52) in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in the semifinals of the Big Ten Conference tournament in Indianapolis, Saturday, March 12, 2011.

Ohio State guard Jon Diebler (33) goes up for a shot against Michigan forward Jordan Morgan (52) in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in the semifinals of the Big Ten Conference tournament in Indianapolis, Saturday, March 12, 2011.

Michael Conroy, Associated Press
4 of 11
Michigan guard Darius Morris (4) drives against Ohio State forward Jared Sullinger in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in the semifinals of the Big Ten Conference tournament in Indianapolis, Saturday, March 12, 2011.

Michigan guard Darius Morris (4) drives against Ohio State forward Jared Sullinger in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in the semifinals of the Big Ten Conference tournament in Indianapolis, Saturday, March 12, 2011.

Michael Conroy, Associated Press
5 of 11
Michigan guard Darius Morris (4) loses control of the ball as he collides with Ohio State guard Aaron Craft (3) in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in the semifinals of the Big Ten Conference tournament in Indianapolis, Saturday, March 12

Michigan guard Darius Morris (4) loses control of the ball as he collides with Ohio State guard Aaron Craft (3) in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in the semifinals of the Big Ten Conference tournament in Indianapolis, Saturday, March 12, 2011.

Kiichiro Sato, Associated Press
6 of 11
Ohio State forward Jared Sullinger (0) shoots against Michigan guard Tim Hardaway Jr. (10) and forward Evan Smotrycz (23) in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in the semifinals of the Big Ten Conference tournament in Indianapolis, Saturday

Ohio State forward Jared Sullinger (0) shoots against Michigan guard Tim Hardaway Jr. (10) and forward Evan Smotrycz (23) in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in the semifinals of the Big Ten Conference tournament in Indianapolis, Saturday, March 12, 2011.

Michael Conroy, Associated Press
7 of 11
Ohio State guard Jordan Sibert (2) dunks in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Michigan in the semifinals of the Big Ten Conference tournament in Indianapolis, Saturday, March 12, 2011. At right is Michigan guard Stu Douglass.

Ohio State guard Jordan Sibert (2) dunks in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Michigan in the semifinals of the Big Ten Conference tournament in Indianapolis, Saturday, March 12, 2011. At right is Michigan guard Stu Douglass.

Michael Conroy, Associated Press
8 of 11
Ohio State forward David Lighty goes up for a basket against Michigan guards Darius Morris, left, and Tim Hardaway Jr. in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in the semifinals of the Big Ten Conference tournament in Indianapolis, Saturday, M

Ohio State forward David Lighty goes up for a basket against Michigan guards Darius Morris, left, and Tim Hardaway Jr. in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in the semifinals of the Big Ten Conference tournament in Indianapolis, Saturday, March 12, 2011.

Michael Conroy, Associated Press
9 of 11
Ohio State forward Deshaun Thomas (1) takes a jump shot against Michigan guard Tim Hardaway Jr. (10) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in the semifinals of the Big Ten Conference tournament in Indianapolis, Saturday, March 12, 2011.

Ohio State forward Deshaun Thomas (1) takes a jump shot against Michigan guard Tim Hardaway Jr. (10) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in the semifinals of the Big Ten Conference tournament in Indianapolis, Saturday, March 12, 2011.

Michael Conroy, Associated Press
10 of 11
Michigan head coach John Beilein directs his team in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Ohio State in the semifinals of the Big Ten Conference tournament in Indianapolis, Saturday, March 12, 2011.

Michigan head coach John Beilein directs his team in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Ohio State in the semifinals of the Big Ten Conference tournament in Indianapolis, Saturday, March 12, 2011.

Michael Conroy, Associated Press
11 of 11
Ohio State guard Jon Diebler talks to referee Ted Valentine in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Michigan in the semifinals of the Big Ten Conference tournament in Indianapolis, Saturday, March 12, 2011.
Ohio State guard Aaron Craft goes up for a layup in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Michigan in the semifinals of the Big Ten Conference tournament in Indianapolis, Saturday, March 12, 2011.
Michigan guard Darius Morris (4) is warned by by referee Ed Hightower and head coach John Beilein after mouthing off to the opponent bench in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Ohio State in the semifinals of the Big Ten Conference
Ohio State guard Jon Diebler (33) goes up for a shot against Michigan forward Jordan Morgan (52) in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in the semifinals of the Big Ten Conference tournament in Indianapolis, Saturday, March 12, 2011.
Michigan guard Darius Morris (4) drives against Ohio State forward Jared Sullinger in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in the semifinals of the Big Ten Conference tournament in Indianapolis, Saturday, March 12, 2011.
Michigan guard Darius Morris (4) loses control of the ball as he collides with Ohio State guard Aaron Craft (3) in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in the semifinals of the Big Ten Conference tournament in Indianapolis, Saturday, March 12
Ohio State forward Jared Sullinger (0) shoots against Michigan guard Tim Hardaway Jr. (10) and forward Evan Smotrycz (23) in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in the semifinals of the Big Ten Conference tournament in Indianapolis, Saturday
Ohio State guard Jordan Sibert (2) dunks in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Michigan in the semifinals of the Big Ten Conference tournament in Indianapolis, Saturday, March 12, 2011. At right is Michigan guard Stu Douglass.
Ohio State forward David Lighty goes up for a basket against Michigan guards Darius Morris, left, and Tim Hardaway Jr. in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in the semifinals of the Big Ten Conference tournament in Indianapolis, Saturday, M
Ohio State forward Deshaun Thomas (1) takes a jump shot against Michigan guard Tim Hardaway Jr. (10) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in the semifinals of the Big Ten Conference tournament in Indianapolis, Saturday, March 12, 2011.
Michigan head coach John Beilein directs his team in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Ohio State in the semifinals of the Big Ten Conference tournament in Indianapolis, Saturday, March 12, 2011.

INDIANAPOLIS — Jared Sullinger had 14 points and 13 rebounds, and No. 1 Ohio State boosted its bid for the NCAA tournament's top overall seed with a 68-61 victory over rival Michigan in the Big Ten semifinals.

The regular-season league champs and defending tournament champs will play in a record-tying third straight championship game Sunday against either sixth-seeded Penn State or seventh-seeded Michigan State. Illinois also played in three consecutive title games from 2003-05.

Ohio State (31-2) has won six straight games overall and all three matchups this season with Michigan (20-13).

The Wolverines were led by Darius Morris with 16 points and Tim Hardaway Jr. with 15.

Michigan got as close as 47-45 with 9:51 left, but the Buckeyes answered with 16 straight points and held off a late charge that got the Wolverines within four in the final minute.

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