Published: 3/26/2010

Tennessee tops Ohio State to reach Elite 8

BY MATT MARKEY
BLADE SPORTS WRITER

ST. LOUIS – A 31-point performance by Big Ten player of the year Evan Turner was not enough to carry an otherwise cold-shooting Ohio State team past Tennessee in the Midwest Regional semifinal game of the NCAA tournament Friday night as the Buckeyes fell by a 76-73 score.

Ohio State (29-8) had led 42-39 at the half and was up by five with 10 minutes left in the game, but Tennessee (28-8) dominated the inside and finished strong, taking the lead for good on a tip-in by 6-11 Brian Williams with 32 seconds to play. Turner missed two desperation 3-point attempts in the final five seconds.

William Buford added 15 points for the Buckeyes, while Jon Diebler went just 1-of-8 from the field as Ohio State shot just 32 percent in the second half.

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