Buckeyes Hold On for Another Win, Wichita State Advances

The Sweet 16 started on Thursday night and in the West, #2 Ohio State got off to a rough start before defeating #6 Arizona, 73-70.

The team did need another late miracle 3-pointer to get the win but this time it came by LaQuinton Ross–not Aaron Craft–who came through with two seconds remaining.

Buckeyes Laquinton Ross

Ross scored 14 of his 17 points in game’s second half. Deshaun Thomas added 20 points while Craft had 13 points, five points and five rebounds.

The Buckeyes came back from an 11-point deficit but entered halftime behind, 38-33. They made some adjustments at the break and returned to outscore the Wildcats 16-4 in the first 8:11 of the second half. The points came either from the free-throw line or in the paint; this resulted in a 50-42 advantage.

As for Arizona, Mark Lyons led the team in scoring with 23 points. He hit a 3-pointer with 21.8 seconds remaining in the game to tie it up but we all know how everything turned out. Solomon Hill, a Los Angeles native, contributed 16 points but the remaining players for the team had a combined 31 points from shooting of 10-for-29.

The Wildcats have again come so close to a second NCAA regional final over the last four years.

Arizona coach Sean Miller said of his team via ESPN, “I’m proud of our guys’ effort. We tried hard, and losing in this tournament when you play hard to the end hurts more in the beginning, but I think you leave with a lot of pride knowing you played your heart out.”

For Ohio State, they haven’t lost a game since Feb. 17 against Wisconsin. Their win streak started with a victory over Indiana and continued with its Big Ten tournament title. Next up for Ohio State is Wichita State on Saturday. They are 1 for 1 to win the West region.

Saturday’s match up comes as #9 Wichita State defeated #13 LaSalle 72-58 on Thursday.

LaSalle’s Ramon Galloway

The Shockers showed up to win, jumping out of the starting gate with a 14-2 run. LaSalle had to fight for the rest of the game to catch up. They came back in the second half, just shy of 11 points, but the Shockers again extended their lead by 22 points.

For LaSalle, Jerrell Wright and Tyrone Garland led in scoring as they each contributed 16 points. Ramon Galloway, usually the team’s scoring leader with his 17.4 points per game average, only scored 11 points and missed his first six shots.

It has been asked, would the game have turned out differently if La Salle center Steve Zack had played on Thursday? He received clearance to do so on Wednesday after he missed he last six games from a sprained ankle.

Probably not said LaSalle coach John Giannini, commenting via CBS Sports, “He had a lot of soreness today, and we didn’t think he could move well enough to help us in the game.”

Wichita State’s Malcolm Armstead led the team in scoring with 18 points, followed by Carl Hall with 16 points and Ron Baker’s 13 points.

The team got to the Sweet 16 by defeating #1 Gonzaga. With Thursday’s win, it has now tied the 2010-11’s team for the most wins and represents the first #13 seed get to the Elite Eight. But the Shockers have their eye on a Final Four visit–something that hasn’t happened since 1965.

Baker said of the potential opportunity via CBS Sports, “We need one more win to seal this deal and go back home and get ready for the Final Four,” Baker said. “We’re just going to grab this opportunity the best we can.”

For Wichita State, they have won the Big Dance but it was back in 1954 followed by a title game visit in the following year.

To get another championship this year, the odds are 66 to 1.