COLUMBUS, Ohio – There were no last-second heroics for the Buckeyes in the Staples Center last night, as the ninth-seeded Wichita State Shockers built a 20-point lead and held off Ohio State 70-66 to advance to the Final Four of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament.
The loss ended OSU’s 11-game winning streak and denied Thad Matta’s team a second consecutive trip to the semifinals.
Finding themselves trailing 56-36 midway through the second half, the second-seeded Buckeyes mounted a furious rally that cut the lead to three – 62-59 – with 2:48 remaining, but were unable to close the gap.
Malcolm Armstead posted 14 points and seven rebounds and Cleanthony Early and Fred Van Vleet each scored 12 points in the win.
This is the second-ever appearance in the national semifinals for the Shockers, who made the trip in 1965.
Deshaun Thomas totaled 23 points and five boards for the Buckeyes, who end the year at 29-and-8.
LaQuinton Ross chipped in with 19 points in defeat.
Wichita State plays Louisville or Duke on Saturday.