The comeback effort was valiant, but a LaQuinton Ross 3-pointer with two seconds on the clock eliminated the Arizona Wildcats from the NCAA Tournament. Ohio State won the game 73-70.

OSU opened the second half on a 19-5 run, but after seven straight Lyons points — including an and-one to tie the game up at 70 with 21 seconds to go — the Buckeyes had the ball with just over 20 seconds remaining.

Guard Aaron Craft, OSU’s hero against Iowa State in the third round last week, brought the ball up the court. But, he dished it to Ross, who nailed the long ball and ended Arizona’s season, and the careers of seniors Lyons, Solomon Hill and Kevin Parrom.

The Wildcats went into the locker room with a 38-34 lead, but couldn’t keep up the same energy at the outset of the second half. Ohio State went on that 19-5 run in the first eight minutes, converting on six of their first 11 shots. Arizona, on the other hand, didn’t even score its first points until Hill, stumbling, found Brandon Ashley for a midrange jumper after five minutes and 20 seconds had passed by.

But, then Hill almost single-handedly brought Arizona back into the game. With 10:38 to go, Hill scored nine points over the next two minutes to bring the Wildcats within four points at 56-52.

Hill finished with 16 points, nine of which came in the second half, and Lyons led all scorers with 23 points.

Arizona shot 44.2 percent from the field, 33.3 percent from three (including 1-of-10 in the second half), were outrebounded 32-30 and had 11 turnovers to the Buckeye’s eight.

Deshaun Thomas led OSU with 20 points, but only four in the second half. Ross finished with 17 points, none bigger than the final three.

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