Villanova beats Ohio State to advance to Sweet 16 in NCAA tournament

The Wildcats (28-7) earned their eighth journey to the Candy 16 below Jay Wright after surviving a second-half push from the Buckeyes (20-12), who trimmed a 15-point deficit to 2 earlier than Villanova regained its footing.

The Wildcats will proceed their quest for a 3rd nationwide title in seven seasons after they face Eleventh-seeded Michigan (19-14) within the South Area semifinals on Thursday evening in San Antonio.

Malachi Branham scored 15 of his 23 factors within the second half. E.J. Liddell added 17 in probably his closing sport with the Buckeyes earlier than heading to the NBA.

Villanova led wire-to-wire however there have been some tense moments down the stretch. A 3-pointer by Ohio State’s Jamari Wheeler drew the Buckeyes inside 60-58 with 5:39 to play. The Buckeyes acquired no nearer.

Samuels hit a layup and Gillespie knocked down a pull-up jumper whereas Ohio State went chilly.

When the Buckeyes tried to lure Gillespie within the put up late, he discovered Dixon open on the 3-point line and the sophomore knocked down the shot to make it 67-59 with 1:38 left to finish any probability the Buckeyes had of reaching the Candy 16 for the primary time since 2013.

Ohio State missed six of its final seven pictures after Wheeler’s 3 introduced a portion of the scarlet-clad crowd that made the three-hour drive from Columbus to its toes.

The second weekend of the event has develop into a well-recognized vacation spot for the Wildcats since Wright took over in 2004. After a so-so – by this system’s excessive requirements – common season, Villanova seems to be harmful as soon as once more.

Per week after rolling to the Huge East Event title, the Wildcats gained their first two event video games in Pittsburgh by double digits, simply as they did in 2018 on their strategy to a nationwide title.

The Buckeyes overwhelmed Loyola Chicago within the first spherical, smothering the Ramblers for 40 minutes whereas holding the NCAA Event darlings to simply 41 factors.

If Gillespie and Caleb Daniels weren’t doing no matter they wished off the dribble Sunday, Dixon was getting straightforward seems to be within the lane. The defensive swagger Ohio State had on Friday vanished towards the extra polished and poised Wildcats.

Gillespie scored 10 consecutive factors on a pair of free throws, two 3-pointers and a steal and layup as Villanova wanted lower than eight minutes to construct a double-digit lead on its strategy to a 39-28 halftime lead.

A layup by Jermaine Samuels made it 46-31 early within the second half earlier than Branham and Liddell nearly single-handedly introduced the Buckeyes again.

Ohio State ahead Kyle Younger left with 8:55 to play after getting hit within the head. He didn’t return. He had missed the Huge Ten Event whereas being within the concussion protocol