Buckeyes edge Cornell in NIT

COLUMBUS — The Ohio State men's basketball team has advanced in the NIT. The Buckeyes edged Cornell, 88-83, on Tuesday night. They'll take on the winner of Virginia Tech and Richmond in the second round of the 32-team National Invitation Tournament. Cornell led 19-9 early, but Ohio State (21-13) pushed to a six-point halftime advantage, 44-38. The Big Red (22-8) fought back and held two slim leads in the second half. That included 81-79 when Isaiah Gray made a layup with 64 seconds to play. Jamison Battle responded with a 3 for an Ohio State lead with 43 seconds left, and the Buckeyes didn't give the edge back. Devin Royal got a layup over the top of the press, and Dale Bonner and Evan Mahaffey each added two free throws to close it out. Battle and Roddy Gayle Jr. each had 17 points for Ohio State. Battle added eight rebounds and five assists, while Gayle finished with seven boards and four assists. Felix Okpara pitched in 16 points, seven rebounds and three blocks, and Royal had 13 points and five rebounds off the bench. This was Ohio State's first game after Jake Diebler had his interim tag removed as head coach. The Buckeyes are now 7-2 since he took over. --- Ohio St. 88, Cornell 83CORNELL (22-8) Boothby 1-4 0-0 3, Hansen 2-5 0-0 4, Gray 8-10 3-4 19, Noard 4-9 0-0 10, N.Williams 5-10 2-2 14, Fiegen 3-4 0-0 9, Okereke 3-5 0-0 7, Ragland 7-14 0-0 17, Beccles 0-4 0-0 0, Kiachian 0-2 0-0 0, Nix 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 33-67 5-6 83.OHIO ST. (21-13) Battle 6-14 2-5 17, Okpara 7-13 2-7 16, Gayle 6-14 3-4 17, Mahaffey 0-5 2-2 2, Thornton 3-7 0-0 9, Bonner 2-7 2-2 7, Royal 5-11 2-2 13, Key 2-3 0-0 4, Chatman 0-0 0-0 0, Hardman 1-1 0-0 3. Totals 32-75 13-22 88.Halftime_Ohio St. 44-38. 3-Point Goals_Cornell 12-33 (Fiegen 3-4, Ragland 3-8, N.Williams 2-5, Noard 2-7, Okereke 1-2, Boothby 1-4, Beccles 0-1, Hansen 0-2), Ohio St. 11-26 (Battle 3-4, Thornton 3-5, Gayle 2-7, Hardman 1-1, Royal 1-3, Bonner 1-5, Okpara 0-1). Fouled Out_Ragland. Rebounds_Cornell 29 (Ragland 9), Ohio St. 46 (Battle 8). Assists_Cornell 26 (Okereke 6), Ohio St. 22 (Battle 5). Total Fouls_Cornell 20, Ohio St. 12.