DaytonDailyNews.com

COLUMBUS — Indiana coach Kelvin Sampson has grown tired of the shots critics are lobbing at his program for a soft schedule.

"If this isn't a quality win, then we may not get any," a smiling Sampson said after D.J. White scored 21 points and had 13 rebounds and Eric Gordon hit a number of big shots to lead the 14th-ranked Hoosiers past Ohio State 59-53 on Sunday.

It was the first signature win for the Hoosiers (20-3, 9-1 Big Ten) — much maligned by TV analysts for playing a light schedule — against a team higher than No. 49 in the RPI ratings. The Buckeyes (16-8, 7-4) came in at No. 32.

Gordon finished with 15 points, hitting four free throws in the final minute to keep Ohio State at bay. He cited Thursday night's 83-79 double-overtime win at Illinois and the victory over the Buckeyes for signs that the Hoosiers are peaking at the right time.

"We're improving," he said. "The win at Illinois was a big win for us. To come here against a good Ohio State team and win, that's also a good win."

Jordan Crawford contributed seven assists without a turnover and also had six rebounds to go with eight points for the Hoosiers, who won their third in a row and remained in a tie for the conference lead.

Kosta Koufos had 18 points and nine rebounds for the Buckeyes, and Jon Diebler added 14 points.

Ohio State, in dire need of a marquee win of its own to prop up its NCAA tournament hopes, was its own worst enemy. The Buckeyes had three air-ball 3-pointers down the stretch — all by freshmen — after they had pared a 12-point deficit to six or fewer points in the waning moments.

"Playing a team like Indiana, a great basketball team, for whatever reason we just didn't make the plays we needed to make," Ohio State coach Thad Matta said. "They (the Hoosiers) made the plays down the stretch."