Saturday, March 24
Boston, MA
7:05 p.m.
Syracuse University
70
vs
77
Ohio State
Scoop Jardine had 14 points and six assists against Ohio State
Photo by: Stephen Parker
Ohio State Defeats Syracuse, 77-70
3/24/2012 8:07:37 PM | Men's Basketball
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BOSTON – The top-seeded Syracuse University men's basketball team (34-3) was eliminated from the NCAA Tournament by the second-seeded Ohio State Buckeyes (31-7), 77-70, in the Elite 8 at TD Banknorth Garden.
The Orange put together its best record in program history and set numerous school records during the 2011-12 campaign, including the most number of wins, the fewest number of losses and the best start in program history.
Syracuse shot 41.5 percent for the game (22-of-53) and was 20-25 from the free throw line. Ohio State was 41.2 percent from the floor on 21-of-51 shooting and was 31-42 from the charity stripe. Brandon Triche had a team-high 15 points and Baye Keita pulled down a season-best 10 rebounds.
Ohio State had four players in double-figures led by Jared Sullinger with 19 points. Lenzelle Smith Jr. poured in 18 points and was 3-of-6 from behind the arch.
The Buckeyes jumped out to an early 9-2 lead, but back-to-back triples from Jardine cut the OSU advantage to one. Dion Waiters scored the next five Syracuse points, followed by a hoop from Rakeem Christmas. However, the Buckeyes held an 18-15 advantage at the under 12 media timeout.
The Orange took its first lead of the game when Keita jammed home a pass from Jardine to put SU ahead 22-21 at the 9:31 mark of the first half. Ohio State then regained the lead (24-23) when William Buford hit 1-of-2 shooting technical free throws. The two teams continued to go back and forth and the game was tied 27-27 at the final media timeout of the half.
SU and OSU would each score two points in the final four minutes of the half to be tied at 29 heading into the locker room.
Ohio State opened the second half on a 17-7 scoring run and took its largest lead of the game at 46-36 when Lenzelle Smith Jr. hit 1-of-2 from the line. The Orange answered though, with a 6-0 run as Kris Joseph converted an and-one and Brandon Triche hit from behind the arch and cut the OSU lead to 46-42 with 12:41 remaining in the contest.
The Orange continued to chip away at the lead, and back-to-back hoops from Jardine brought SU to within two at 52-50. A free throw from Joseph got Syracuse within one, but Ohio State held a five point advantage heading into the final media timeout of the game (60-55).
Ohio State preserved the victory by making 13-of-14 free throws in the final three minutes of the contest. SU closed the gap to three when Dion Waiters scored and was fouled, but that would be as close as the Orange would get.
Notes: Scoop Jardine was named to the All-East Regional Team; He led the team with 13.8 points per game during the tournament … Ohio State had a 39-26 advantage on the glass … Syracuse outscored Ohio State 28-20 in the paint
BOSTON – The top-seeded Syracuse University men's basketball team (34-3) was eliminated from the NCAA Tournament by the second-seeded Ohio State Buckeyes (31-7), 77-70, in the Elite 8 at TD Banknorth Garden.
The Orange put together its best record in program history and set numerous school records during the 2011-12 campaign, including the most number of wins, the fewest number of losses and the best start in program history.
Syracuse shot 41.5 percent for the game (22-of-53) and was 20-25 from the free throw line. Ohio State was 41.2 percent from the floor on 21-of-51 shooting and was 31-42 from the charity stripe. Brandon Triche had a team-high 15 points and Baye Keita pulled down a season-best 10 rebounds.
Ohio State had four players in double-figures led by Jared Sullinger with 19 points. Lenzelle Smith Jr. poured in 18 points and was 3-of-6 from behind the arch.
The Buckeyes jumped out to an early 9-2 lead, but back-to-back triples from Jardine cut the OSU advantage to one. Dion Waiters scored the next five Syracuse points, followed by a hoop from Rakeem Christmas. However, the Buckeyes held an 18-15 advantage at the under 12 media timeout.
The Orange took its first lead of the game when Keita jammed home a pass from Jardine to put SU ahead 22-21 at the 9:31 mark of the first half. Ohio State then regained the lead (24-23) when William Buford hit 1-of-2 shooting technical free throws. The two teams continued to go back and forth and the game was tied 27-27 at the final media timeout of the half.
SU and OSU would each score two points in the final four minutes of the half to be tied at 29 heading into the locker room.
Ohio State opened the second half on a 17-7 scoring run and took its largest lead of the game at 46-36 when Lenzelle Smith Jr. hit 1-of-2 from the line. The Orange answered though, with a 6-0 run as Kris Joseph converted an and-one and Brandon Triche hit from behind the arch and cut the OSU lead to 46-42 with 12:41 remaining in the contest.
The Orange continued to chip away at the lead, and back-to-back hoops from Jardine brought SU to within two at 52-50. A free throw from Joseph got Syracuse within one, but Ohio State held a five point advantage heading into the final media timeout of the game (60-55).
Ohio State preserved the victory by making 13-of-14 free throws in the final three minutes of the contest. SU closed the gap to three when Dion Waiters scored and was fouled, but that would be as close as the Orange would get.
Notes: Scoop Jardine was named to the All-East Regional Team; He led the team with 13.8 points per game during the tournament … Ohio State had a 39-26 advantage on the glass … Syracuse outscored Ohio State 28-20 in the paint
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