Ohio State's Matta credits decision to wear tie for snapping losing streak

Twenty-two points from JaQuan Lyle helped, but Thad Matta believes his decision to throw on a necktie Sunday had more to do with Ohio State snapping its four-game losing streak.

At the request of his family, particularly his 18-year-old daughter, Ali, Matta ditched his casual look, then picked up a massive home win over Michigan State.

"I guess whenever we play again, I'll probably have a tie on," Matta said after the game, according to Adam Jardy of The Columbus Dispatch.

The win, Ohio State's first in five contests, helped the Buckeyes avoid their worst start to Big Ten play since the 1997-98 season.

Though Matta did ultimately tie the giant knot around his neck, the 49-year-old revealed he wasn't all that inclined to comply with his family's request.

"I said, 'I don’t want to do that. I sweat too much,'" Matta explained. "I told them I wasn't going to. They didn't even talk to me when I left the house this morning, then when I came out and they saw it they were very happy."

The wardrobe adjustment caught more than just the Mattas by surprise, as his Spartans counterpart, Tom Izzo, was shocked upon encountering Matta at the arena.

"He's like, 'What are you doing? I wasn't going to wear a tie today because you don't wear a tie. I hate these things,'" Matta said.

"I said, 'Not half as much as I (do).'"

After winning for the first time since Dec. 23, he presumably hates them a little bit less.