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[Qbins Missile Crisis]

NCAAB: Ohio State favored to win NIT

Ohio State, losers of the football and basketball National Championship games in the last year, are 2 ½-point favorites for the NIT Championship game tonight as they take on UMass from Madison Square Garden.

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Massachusetts was set to experience the fate most expected, trailing Florida 36-27 at the half as four-point underdogs. The Minutemen returned for the second half as Supermen and chomped up the Gators, outscoring them 51-30.

It was three UMass seniors that turned the game around. Dante Milligan and Gary Forbes in particular, combined to score 36 points leading the team by example.

"The reason I thought we'd have a chance in this game was if our seniors showed some leadership," coach Travis Ford said. "These guys just have that never-die attitude."

They will have one last fling to show there mettle against Ohio State. Massachusetts is 7-1 ATS in road games when playing against a good team (Win Pct. 60% to 80%) this season.

The Buckeyes, behind the leadership of senior Jamar Butler, was able to do what Mississippi was not, overcome stage fright. The Rebels made mistake after mistake and couldn’t throw the ball into the New York harbor.

"I just experienced a coach's worst nightmare, to come on a big stage and start the game the way we did," Ole Miss coach Andy Kennedy said. "The hole we dug was insurmountable."

Ohio State cruised home to win by 12 after building up 44-20 halftime lead. Most pundits figured the Buckeyes couldn’t handle the moment against the more experienced Rebels; however, Butler and Evan Turner scored 17 each and David Lighty and Kosta Koufas added 16 points a piece for the Buckeyes in a very balanced attack.

Ohio State can end the season with a win, unlike last year in losing in NCAA title game to Florida. The Scarlet and Gray are 15-6 ATS in all tournament games over the last two seasons and are 6-2 ATS after allowing 25 or fewer points in first half of last game.

No matter how Thad Matta’s team starts, the coach will have to sell his team on the fact this will require 40 minutes of continuous effort, since UMass have already shown incredible resiliency in coming back from second-half deficits of 12 against Akron, 22 against Syracuse and nine against the Gators just to reach the NIT championship.

Despite the slow starts, Massachusetts has played good basketball in the traditional sense and is 6-2 ATS after three straight games committing 14 or less turnovers.

Whatever team gains control of the tempo, will determine the outcome of the Total of 149. UMass is 6-1 UNDER in last seven games, while the Buckeyes are 13-3 OVER after leading in their previous game by 15 or more points at the half.

This NIT Championship is on ESPN starting at 7 pm ET, with Ohio State 5-1 ATS when the total is in 140-149.5 range and the Minutemen 8-4 as underdogs.

StatFox Power Line – Ohio State by 1