Ohio State overcomes late deficit, wins in overtime

ESPN ^ | March 17, 2007 | AP

[fkabuckeyesrule]

LEXINGTON, Ky. -- Ohio State thought Greg Oden was its best shot at a national championship. Turns out it was Ron Lewis, and in the nick of time.

Lewis hit a long-range 3-pointer with two seconds left to force overtime, and the top-seeded Buckeyes rallied from a late 11-point deficit to beat Xavier 78-71 Saturday in a second-round South Regional game.

Ohio State trailed 55-44 with 7 ½ minutes left, and was still down 59-50 with 3:49 left. When Oden fouled out with a hard shove after the Buckeyes kept missing in the last 10 seconds, they looked lost.

Xavier made of one of two foul shots, giving Ohio State its last chance. Lewis came down and, with two defenders flying at him, swished the tying 3-pointer.

[fkabuckeyesrule]

Go Bucks!!!! What a game. Congrats to Xavier on playing a great game. I don't think I can take an entire day of these games though.

[kjo]

But for a ring-around-the-rim free throw go the Bucks. Sometimes it's better to be lucky than good.

[fkabuckeyesrule]

Very lucky indeed....a real gutzy victory for the buckeyes.

[Choose Ye This Day]

I really wanted to see Xavier upset the Buckeyes. Too bad they couldn't play the OT with same intensity they played the rest of the game.

Great game.

[GreenAccord]

Big buckeye fan here, and games like this are what makes the NCAA Tournament the sports event that it is.

That's the first time in my memory that Ohio State has won a tourney game in that fashion. The Matt Sylvester 3 pointer in 2005 was close but in the big scheme of things wasn't all that meaningful.

You have to feel for Xavier which played a nearly flawless second half but was unable to get a field goal in the last 3 minutes. As for Cage missing the second free throw, law of averages, as Xavier had been pretty much perfect from the foul line throughout the second half. Heck, they barely missed a shot until the 3 minute mark.

Like I said, games like this are what makes the 64 team tournament the one-of-a-kind sporting event that it is.

Did Duke go onto win the tourney when Laettner shot that miracle shot against Kentucky?

[lepton]

Miami of Ohio and Xavier...

[Dick Vomer]

How 'bout them Aggies.... we're in the Sweet 16...YEAH~!!!

[fkabuckeyesrule]

Yes Texas A&M worries me especially since the regional is in San Antonio.

[se_ohio_young_conservative]

What is that saying

"Champions are not always great, they are just great when they have to be."

Hopefully we can keep this thing going all the way to the final four !

[G8 Diplomat]

Nice. I got into Ohio State. Might go there. Go Buckeyes!