COLUMBUS — Keita Bates-Diop was 6 for 8 from beyond the 3-point line and totaled 26 points in leading Ohio State to a 91-69 rout of Maryland on Thursday night.
C.J. Jackson scored 14 and Jae-Sean Tate added 13 to power the surprising Buckeyes, who were coming off a huge upset of then-No. 1 Michigan State on Sunday.
Ohio State (14-4, 5-0 Big Ten) battled back from a seven-point deficit in the first half, took a 24-22 lead with a Tate dunk with 7:25 left in the frame and cruised from there, leading by as many as 28 points in the second half.
Bates-Diop continued his torrid streak after putting up 27 points against Iowa on Jan. 4, and a 32-point performance against Michigan State that earned him Big Ten Player of the Week honors.
Ohio State has won four straight and nine of the last 10.
Anthony Cekovsky at 7-foot-1 used took his height advantage inside to lead the Terrapins with 18 points.
Maryland has lost its two lead power forwards and a key reserve — accounting for about 19 points per game — to season-ending injuries in the past two weeks.
The Buckeyes led 44-32 at the half on the strength of a 22-2 run that included a trio of 3-pointers from Andrew Dakich and a pair from Bates-Diop.
Maryland’s Anthony Cowan, center, tries to pass the ball between Ohio State’s Andrew Dakich, left, and C.J. Jackson during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Thursday, Jan. 11, 2018, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete)
http://www.limaohio.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/54/2018/01/web1_119619733-336a76ef63474f779d7638e504263923.jpgMaryland’s Anthony Cowan, center, tries to pass the ball between Ohio State’s Andrew Dakich, left, and C.J. Jackson during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Thursday, Jan. 11, 2018, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete)
Ohio State’s Kaleb Wesson, right, posts up against Maryland’s Bruno Fernando during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Thursday, Jan. 11, 2018, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete)
http://www.limaohio.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/54/2018/01/web1_119619733-680a2f1c6ec142e1803ab01c8bfb1ffc.jpgOhio State’s Kaleb Wesson, right, posts up against Maryland’s Bruno Fernando during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Thursday, Jan. 11, 2018, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete)
Ohio State’s Jae’Sean Tate, left, posts up against Maryland’s Michal Cekovsky during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Thursday, Jan. 11, 2018, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete)
http://www.limaohio.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/54/2018/01/web1_119619733-3c42c7fa012e445495800c6c5cce3427.jpgOhio State’s Jae’Sean Tate, left, posts up against Maryland’s Michal Cekovsky during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Thursday, Jan. 11, 2018, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete)
