The No. 21 Ohio State Buckeyes will face the Towson Tigers tonight looking to extend their winning streak to three games, tip-off is at 9:00 pm ET on ESPNU from Value City Arena.

The 6-2 Buckeyes will look to keep the ball rolling following a solid showing in their Big Ten road opener against Penn State. For the second consecutive game, Chris Holtmann saw a balanced performance from his offense, a key to success for a team that has relied on E.J. Liddell to get the job done on that end of the floor in the early going. The Buckeyes were led in scoring by senior Kyle Young, who continues to show his expanded range, going 4-4 from downtown and dropping 16 points. Jamari Wheeler also added a solid game in his return to Happy Valley boasting a stat line of 9 points, 5 rebounds, and 9 assists. The Buckeyes also saw key minutes from freshman Malaki Branham, who scored a career-high 11 points as his development continues and role grows within the offense. Overall, the Buckeyes proved they could sustain success and maintain their identity even after a hard-fought win over #1 Duke, a good sign for a team that is part of the most physical and daunting conference in the country.

The Towson Tigers enter the contest with a record of 6-3 and on a 3-game winning streak, which includes 15-point victories over Kent State and New Mexico. The Tigers have been led in scoring by their two prolific guards, Cameron Holden and Nicolas Timberlake, both of which are capable of dropping 20+ points on any given night. The Tigers commonly play small ball normally putting four guards and a forward on the floor at any given time, they look to spread out defenses, get up the court in transition and shoot the three-ball. However, they will face their first real test tonight in the Buckeyes that have proven themselves as one of the top defensive teams in the country, capable of beating any opponent.

Ohio State enters as a 15-point favorite on their home court but must remain focused on the task at hand and not get caught looking ahead to Wisconsin and Kentucky in the coming days. A balanced offensive attack will again remain the focal point, however, the Buckeyes will likely look to take advantage of the Tigers’ lack of size with Young, Key, and Liddell all crashing the glass and being physical in the paint.

Score prediction: 81-67, Ohio State

Tune in on ESPNU at 9:00 pm ET as the Buckeyes look to tame the Tigers and defend their home court as well as their win streak.

Feature image: AP Photo, Gary M. Baranec