Ohio State beats Syracuse 77-70 to reach Final 4

By Jimmy Golen

Associated Press

Published: Saturday, March 24 2012 7:40 p.m. MDT

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Syracuse guard Dion Waiters (3) shoots in front of Ohio State's Aaron Craft (4), Deshaun Thomas (1) and Sam Thompson (12) during the first half of the East Regional final game in the NCAA men's college basketball tournament, Saturday, March 24, 2012, in Boston.

Elise Amendola, Associated Press

Summary

Jared Sullinger recovered from first-half foul trouble to score 19 points and grab seven rebounds, helping Ohio State beat Syracuse 77-70 on Saturday to advance to the Final Four.

BOSTON — Jared Sullinger recovered from first-half foul trouble to score 19 points and grab seven rebounds, helping Ohio State beat Syracuse 77-70 on Saturday to advance to the Final Four.

It will be the Buckeyes' first trip to the NCAA semifinals since 2007.

Deshaun Thomas scored 14 with nine rebounds for Ohio State (31-7), which led by eight points with 59 seconds to play and held on after the Orange cut it to three. The Buckeyes made 13 of 14 free throws in the final 68 seconds.

Brandon Triche scored 15 points and Baye Keita had 10 rebounds for Syracuse (34-3). The Orange were hoping for a return trip to New Orleans, where they won their only national championship in 2003.

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