gophers/ncaa

Chicago, IL (Sports Network) - Deshaun Thomas and Sam Thompson scored 19 points apiece, as 10th-ranked Ohio State defeated Nebraska, 71-50, in the Big Ten Conference Tournament quarterfinals.

Ohio State (24-7), which earned the second seed and a first-round bye in the tourney, will play the winner of Michigan State/Iowa in the semifinals on Saturday.

Thompson shot 8-of-9 from the field and Thomas grabbed nine boards. LaQuinton Ross scored 11 points off the bench.

Brandon Ubel had a team-high 16 points and seven rebounds for the Cornhuskers (15-18), who were the tenth seed in the tourney and defeated seventh seed Purdue, 57-55, in the first round on Thursday. Shavon Shields was the only other Nebraska player to score double-digits with 14.

Up 24-23 with 1:39 left in the first half, the Buckeyes made four consecutive free throws - three by Thomas -- to take a 28-23 lead at halftime.

The Buckeyes pulled away in the second half, outscoring the Cornhuskers 26-5 within the first eight minutes of the frame. The run was capped with a reverse dunk by Thomas for a 54-28 advantage.

Nebraska had a 10-0 spurt afterwards and cut the deficit to 56-40 with 6:18 remaining in regulation, but it was not enough.

The Cornhuskers scored just three points in the final 4 1/2 minutes.

Game Notes

Ross scored all of his points in the second half ... The Buckeyes shot 17- of-22 from the floor in the second half, including 6-of-9 from 3-point range. The Cornhuskers recorded just nine assists in the game ... Ohio State defeated Nebraska in both of the regular season meetings.

03/15 21:12:58 ET