The No. 9 seed Wichita State Shockers upset the No. 2 seed Ohio State Buckeyes and advanced to Atlanta for the Final Four in the NCAA tournament in the West Region Saturday evening, 70-66.
Ohio State looked unprepared for the physical play of the Shockers. The game was tied at the 11 minute mark in the first half, but the Shockers went on an 18-5 run that gave them a 35-22 lead over the Buckeyes at halftime.
Wichita State continued to extend its lead in the second half, and the Shockers led by as many as 20 points with 11 minutes left in the game.
Ohio State, which had come back to win with buzzer beating 3-pointers against Iowa State and Arizona in the previous two rounds, took advantage of injuries to the Shockers' Carl Hall and Cleanthony Early to go on a 23-6 run that cut the lead to three points with just under three minutes remaining.
The Shockers allowed Ohio State back in the game at the free throw line. During their 23-6 run the Buckeyes scored 12 of those points from the free throw line.
Tekele Cotton of Wichita State ended the Buckeyes run with 2:22 left on the clock when he knocked down his second 3-pointer of the game. Deshaun Thomas answered for Ohio State with a layup on the other end. However, Wichita State had found its rhythm, and Fred Vanvleet knocked down a jumper. Following two Ron Baker free throws, the Shockers’ lead was back up to eight points with 51 seconds to go.
Buckeyes' point guard Aaron Craft hit a long 3-pointer with six seconds remaining to cut the lead to four points, but it would be too late for Ohio State.
Malcolm Armstead led the Shockers with 14 points, seven rebounds and three assists. Early added 12 points and seven rebounds while Vanvleet contributed 12 points. The Shockers are not usually known for the long range shot, but they made 8-20 from the 3-point line.
Thomas led the Buckeyes with 23 points and three assists. LaQuinton Ross added 19 points. Wichita State held Ohio State to 31.1 percent from the floor and 5 of 25 from behind the arc.
This is the first time since 1965 that the Shockers have advanced to the national semifinal game.
Wichita State will face the winner of No. 1 seed Louisville vs. No. 2 seed Duke in the Final Four next Saturday. The time of the game is still to be determined.
For more information, visit www.NCAA.com.
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