March 4, 2008

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) - Othello Hunter, one of Ohio State's worst free throw shooters, hit two foul shots and made a big defensive play down the stretch as the Buckeyes upset No. 15 Purdue 80-77 on Tuesday night.

The loss dropped the Boilermakers (23-7, 14-3), one-half game behind first-place Wisconsin in the Big Ten. The 10th-ranked Badgers host Penn State on Wednesday and Northwestern on Sunday. The Boilermakers finish at Michigan on Sunday.

Jamar Butler scored 23 of his 25 points in the second half for Ohio State (18-12, 9-8), which ended a four-game losing streak and may have revived its flagging hopes for an at-large berth to the NCAA tournament.

Hunter, averaging 9.3 points a game, had 15, as did Evan Turner.

E'Twaun Moore had 16 points for the Boilermakers, who had won 13 of 14, while Scott Martin had 14 and Robbie Hummel added 12 points and 10 rebounds.