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INDIANAPOLIS (AP) -- Jared Sullinger had 15 points and 11 rebounds and No. 1 Ohio State defeated Penn State 71-60 in the Big Ten tournament final on Sunday to strengthen its case for the No. 1 overall seed in the NCAA tournament.

Sullinger, the tournament's most outstanding player, averaged 16.3 points and 14 rebounds in the tournament to help the top-seeded Buckeyes (32-2) repeat as champions.

William Buford scored 18 points and Jon Diebler added 15 for the Buckeyes, who also won the league's regular-season title.

Talor Battle scored 24 points and Jeff Brooks added 19 for Penn State (19-14), which reached the final for the first time.

The Nittany Lions haven't reached the NCAA tournament since 2001. Penn State was trying to become the first team since Iowa in 2001 to win four consecutive games to claim the title.

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