#16 Ohio State @ Indiana

Who will WIN this matchup?

#16 Ohio State Buckeyes (23-7)

@ Indiana Hoosiers (16-13)

Current odds:

Ohio State Buckeyes: (-140)

Indiana Hoosiers: (+120)

• The line for this game is Ohio State by 2.5 points.

• Ohio State looks to keep its slim Big Ten championship hopes alive when it wraps up the regular season on the road against Indiana on Friday. The No. 15 Buckeyes, who were picked to finish 11th in the preseason Big Ten poll, ended a two-game skid with a 79-52 victory against Rutgers on Tuesday and can grab a share of their first conference title since 2012 if they take care of business against the Hoosiers and top-ranked Michigan State falls to Wisconsin on Sunday. Ohio State cruised past Indiana 71-56 in the first meeting on Jan. 30 and can sweep the season series for the first time since 2010-11.

• Indiana’s chances of earning a postseason bid took a big hit following a 66-57 setback to Nebraska on Tuesday. The Hoosiers had won four consecutive games, including two straight at home by double digits, before being held to their lowest point total in nearly a month, and hope to bounce back by reaching 10 conference wins for the first time since the 2015-16 season.

• C.J. Jackson led the way with 18 points and Kaleb Wesson added 14 on 6-of-7 shooting against Rutgers. Kam Williams scored 13 points in his final collegiate home game while fellow senior Jae’Sean Tate contributed nine points and 10 rebounds to move within 16 points of moving past Jerry Francis for 20th spot on the program’s all-time scoring list. Big Ten Player of the Year candidate Keita Bates-Diop was held to six points on 3-of-11 shooting against the Scarlet Knights and is 12-of-39 from the floor over his last three games.

• Justin Smith continued his stellar play down the stretch as he scored 16 points and pulled down eight rebounds, but the Hoosiers were undone by 19 turnovers against Nebraska. Robert Johnson added 16 points and six rebounds against the Cornhuskers while Juwan Morgan registered 13 points and nine boards to fall short of his second double-double in the last three outings. The Hoosiers will honor Johnson, Josh Newkirk, Collin Hartman, Tim Priller and Freddie McSwain Jr. as part of Friday’s senior night festivities.

• Indiana has won four of the last five home meetings with Ohio State.

• Johnson needs 18 points to move into 22nd place on the Hoosiers’ all-time scoring list.

• The Buckeyes have lost their last two road games by an average margin of 17.5 points.