The second half of this game saw a completely different Kansas Jayhawks team that came back from a 13-point first half deficit and a nine points at the half to defeat the Ohio St. Buckeyes 64-62. Kansas clawed their way back in this game and took their first lead of the since leading 2-0 when Travis Releford made his second free throw with 2:48 left in the game which gave Kansas a 56-55 lead.
Kansas was more aggressive in the second half and their defense stepped up and shutdown the Ohio State offense and held them to 33 percent from the field. Ohio State tried to fend of Kansas with their three-point shooting but 8-of-22 from beyond the arc.
For awhile in the second it seemed that anytime Kansas got within three points or tie the game and Ohio State would respond to keep a slim lead.
The last three minutes of the game were wild and the key point during that time was a quick 6-0 run that Kansas went on to go up by three points with the key play being Elijah Johnson taking a defensive rebound and then going coast-to-coast and convert on a layup to give Kansas a three-point lead with 1:08 left in the game.
Both teams turned the ball over on their next possession and Ohio State had a chance to tie the game but Deshaun Thomas missed a pair of three-pointers with 20 seconds left, and the second one was extremely rushed with 12 seconds probably because he thought time was about to expire. Ohio State's William Budford dunked the second missed three-pointer to get within one point.
Tyshawn Taylor sealed the win with a pair of free throws to go up three points and then on the following inbounds pass with six seconds left Kansas nearly had a steal but Taylor fumbled the ball out of bounds. The game ended on a lane violation when Ohio State's Aaron Craft made the first and intentionally missed the second but left early in an attempt a game winner.
Kansas now advances to take on the Kentucky Wildcats on Monday night for the national championship.
Go check out Rock Chalk Talk for all things regarding Kansas hoops and go visit Along the Olentangy for more Ohio State basketball. For more on the 2012 NCAA Basketball tournament, head over to SB Nation's March Madness hub for all things NCAA basketball.
Kansas was more aggressive in the second half and their defense stepped up and shutdown the Ohio State offense and held them to 33 percent from the field. Ohio State tried to fend of Kansas with their three-point shooting but 8-of-22 from beyond the arc.
For awhile in the second it seemed that anytime Kansas got within three points or tie the game and Ohio State would respond to keep a slim lead.
The last three minutes of the game were wild and the key point during that time was a quick 6-0 run that Kansas went on to go up by three points with the key play being Elijah Johnson taking a defensive rebound and then going coast-to-coast and convert on a layup to give Kansas a three-point lead with 1:08 left in the game.
Both teams turned the ball over on their next possession and Ohio State had a chance to tie the game but Deshaun Thomas missed a pair of three-pointers with 20 seconds left, and the second one was extremely rushed with 12 seconds probably because he thought time was about to expire. Ohio State's William Budford dunked the second missed three-pointer to get within one point.
Tyshawn Taylor sealed the win with a pair of free throws to go up three points and then on the following inbounds pass with six seconds left Kansas nearly had a steal but Taylor fumbled the ball out of bounds. The game ended on a lane violation when Ohio State's Aaron Craft made the first and intentionally missed the second but left early in an attempt a game winner.
Kansas now advances to take on the Kentucky Wildcats on Monday night for the national championship.
Go check out Rock Chalk Talk for all things regarding Kansas hoops and go visit Along the Olentangy for more Ohio State basketball. For more on the 2012 NCAA Basketball tournament, head over to SB Nation's March Madness hub for all things NCAA basketball.