The Associated Press

COLUMBUS - Tony Stockman played his best game as a Buckeye, scoring 22 points with five assists and six steals to lead Ohio State to a 72-64 victory over Northwestern on Wednesday night.

The Buckeyes (11-10, 3-5 Big Ten) made just four of 15 free throws in the first 39 minutes, but were 6-of-6 in the last 60 seconds.

Ohio State has won the last 10 games with Northwestern. The Wildcats (8-11, 3-5) haven't won in Columbus since 1977 - a string of 25 consecutive losses.

Stockman was not permitted to go to the Iowa game 10 days ago by coach Jim O'Brien because of a bad attitude and poor practice habits.

But since then, he has keyed two victories, totaling 17 points, five assists and two steals in Saturday's 65-59 road upset of No. 21 Purdue.

Stockman, a junior transfer from Clemson, made eight of 12 shots from the field including six of 10 3-pointers to lead the Buckeyes to their best shooting night of the season. They hit 57.4 percent, making 27 of 47 from the field and eight of 17 behind the arc.

The 22 points was Stockman's high at Ohio State. Terence Dials and Velimir Radinovic each added 14 points and eight rebounds, with Brandon Fuss-Cheatham scoring 11 points.

Vedran Vukusic scored 24 points - hitting six of eight 3-pointers - to lead Northwestern.

Vukusic hit three 3-pointers in a row and Vince Scott added another to cut the lead to 61-58 with 2:52 left, but Stockman answered the surge with a 3-pointer. After a turnover by the Buckeyes, Scott hit another 3 to make it 61-58, and Stockman later added another 3.

Fuss-Cheatham, Radinovic and Dials each hit two free throws in the final minute to preserve the lead.

NORTHWESTERN (8-11) - Vukusic 8-13 2-2 24, Tolic 0-2 0-0 0, Parker 1-6 0-0 3, Hachad 5-9 1-2 11, Young 5-11 3-6 13, Jenkins 0-0 0-0 0, Seacat 1-6 2-2 5, Duvancic 0-1 0-0 0, Scott 3-5 0-0 8. Totals 23-53 8-12 64.

OHIO ST. (11-10) - T.Dials 6-10 2-4 14, Radinovic 4-5 6-7 14, Sullinger 1-5 0-1 2, Fuss-Cheatham 4-8 2-7 11, Stockman 8-12 0-0 22, Nwankwo 00 0-0 0, Billings 4-7 0-0 9, Jenkins 0-0 0-2 0. Totals 27-47 10-21 72.

Halftime-Ohio St. 31, Northwestern 28. 3-point goals-Northwestern 10-26 (Vukusic 6-8, Scott 2-3, Parker 1-4, Seacat 1-5, Tolic 0-1, Hachad 0-2, Young 0-3), Ohio St. 8-17 (Stockman 6-10, Billings 1-2, Fuss-Cheatham 1-3, Sullinger 0-2). Fouled out-Vukusic, Sullinger. Rebounds-Northwestern 30 (Young 5), Ohio St. 30 (Dials, Radinovic 8). Assists-Northwestern 15 (Young 5), Ohio St. 14 (Stockman 5). Total fouls-Northwestern 22, Ohio St. 14. A-13,460.