South Region: #1 Ohio State Survives Overtime Dual with # 9 Xavier

Ron Lewis hits a long-range 3-pointer with two seconds left to force overtime.

Salem-News.com SPORTS

LEXINGTON, Ky. - By: The Associated Press

Courtesy: Ohio State Athletics

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 1/2 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 then made of one of two foul shots for a 62-59 lead, giving Ohio State its last chance.

Lewis came down and, with two defenders flying at him, swished the tying 3-pointer.

With Oden on the bench, fellow freshman - and high school teammate - Mike Conley Jr. took over.

He scored 11 points in overtime and the Buckeyes (32-3) were never threatened again in winning their 19th straight game.

The Buckeyes, who finished No. 1 in the final Associated Press poll, advanced to the round of 16 for the first time since they went to the Final Four in 1999.

They will play the winner of Sunday's game between Tennessee and Virginia.

Xavier (25-9) was unranked in the final AP poll.

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