Ohio State to host Akron in NIT

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COLUMBUS, Ohio — The Ohio State men’s basketball program has accepted an offer to participate in the 2016 National Invitation Tournament. The No. 3 seed Buckeyes will face No. 6 Akron Tuesday in Columbus. The game will tip at 7 p.m. and will be televised by ESPN.

The Buckeyes are playing in the NIT for the ninth time. Ohio State is 18-7 all-time in the event with a pair of championships (1986, 2008). The Buckeyes are 10-2 at home in the NIT, 3-2 on the road and 5-3 at Madison Square Garden in New York in neutral court competition.

Thad Matta’s Buckeyes are 5-0 in the NIT, including a 3-0 home record and a 2-0 record at MSG. The Buckeyes have played an Ohio team in seven of nine years in the event and own a 4-2 record in those games.

“We are excited about the opportunity to continue our season and appreciate the NIT committee for selecting Ohio State,” Thad Matta, head coach of the Buckeyes, said. “We have a young team who will surely benefit from the additional practice and competition. We need our fans to come out and support this team Tuesday at Value City Arena.”

Ohio State is 6-1 all-time vs. Akron. The teams last met in the 1989 NIT in first round action in Columbus. The Buckeyes won that game 81-70 March 15, 1989. Ohio State is 54-13 all-time vs. teams representing the Mid-American Conference.

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