Jan. 2, 2007

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) - Greg Oden scored 21 points, Othello Hunter had 14 and both provided key defensive stops down the stretch to help No. 6 Ohio State beat Indiana 74-67 on Tuesday night, spoiling Hoosiers coach Kelvin Sampson's first Big Ten game.

Daequan Cook added 12 points and Ron Lewis had 10 for the Buckeyes (12-2, 1-0 Big Ten), who overcame 12-of-22 3-point shooting by Indiana (9-4, 0-1) to improve to 10-0 at Value City Arena.

In what also was the conference debut for Ohio State's highly regarded recruiting class, the two tallest of the five newcomers sparked the Buckeyes down the stretch.

With the 7-foot Oden on the bench after picking up his fourth foul with 6:13 remaining, the 6-9 Hunter gave Ohio State a defensive presence in the low post by blocking two shots by D.J. White.

Hunter, a junior college transfer, followed up the first block with a dunk as the Buckeyes, without Oden on the floor, added four points to their lead to go up 67-60.

Armon Bassett's made two free throws with 2:48 left to bring Indiana within 67-62, and Oden returned to the game. His two free throws with 1:19 left made it 72-64. Roderick Wilmont's 3 brought Indiana within five points, but Oden dashed the Hoosiers' hopes when he emphatically blocked a layup by Bassett.

Freshman Joey Shaw led Indiana with a career-high 16 points.