Ohio State Has Eye of the Tiger

Ohio State versus Auburn matched two of the best comeback stories in the NCAA tournament.

Outcome?

Ohio State is coming back Saturday; Auburn is going back home.

Ohio State went on a 9-0 run in the final three minutes to break open a tie game and defeated Auburn, 72-64, in the second South Regional semifinal game Thursday night at Thompson-Boling Arena.

Ohio State (26-8) advances to play St. John’s in Saturday’s regional championship.

In a thrilling game that spilled into early Friday morning in Knoxville, the Buckeyes took the lead for good, 62-61, with 2:41 left when guard Brian Brown made one of two free-throw attempts.

The crippling blow came less than a minute later, however, when Auburn star forward Chris Porter fouled out with 1:57 remaining and the Tigers trailing by three points, 64-61.

“Finish it up for me,” Porter screamed at his teammates before he left the court.

But Auburn couldn’t do it.

Scoonie Penn’s baseline jumper made the score 66-61 with 1:13 left and then Ohio State finished off Auburn in spectacular fashion when Brown stole the ball from Bryant Smith, raced down the floor and flipped a behind-the-back pass to Jason Singleton for a rousing dunk with 58 seconds left.

Ohio State finished 8-22 last year, finished last in the Big Ten and lost 17 consecutive games in one stretch.

Now, the Buckeyes are three wins from their first national title since 1960.

“The thing that keeps hitting me in the eyes is the way these guys consistently come back to accomplish a little bit more,” Ohio State Coach Jim O’Brien said.

O’Brien finished second to Auburn’s Cliff Ellis in a recent national coach-of-the-year voting by the U.S. Basketball writers, but he didn’t coach like a runner-up Thursday night.

Penn, Ohio State’s star guard, committed his fourth foul with 13:23 left and had to come out of the game.

O’Brien had a decision to make.

With Auburn leading, 52-46, with 10:14 left, O’Brien rushed Penn back into the game.

“I tried to buy some time,” O’Brien explained, “but we were down by six, I felt it slipping. I didn’t want to lose the game with my best guy sitting on the bench.”

Penn was brilliant down the stretch, scoring 11 of his game-high 26 points after he returned to the game. He did it all without fouling out.

When the game ended, Penn hurled the ball toward the rafters.

“I’m emotionally drained,” Penn said afterward. “That was the biggest victory of my life. When the buzzer went off, all I could think of was throwing the ball up.”

Ellis said Penn was the difference.

“They won eight games without him last year, how many did they win this year?” Ellis said. “He’s a money player. He makes plays. He’s not a good guard. He’s a great guard. He’s their heart and soul.”

Penn and guard Michael Redd, who finished with 22 points and 10 rebounds, are clearly Ohio State’s stars, but this was also a good night for the grunts.

Auburn led the nation, averaging 20 offensive rebounds a game, but was held to only 14 by the Buckeyes.

“Me and Mike may have scored a lot of points,” Penn said, “but without all those guys in there fighting, we would not be up here right now.”

Auburn’s season ended abruptly after a surprising run. The Tigers returned four starters from a 16-14 team and finished 29-4.

Porter had 15 points and 11 rebounds to lead the Tigers. guard Doc Robinson added 14.