NCAA Tournament 2014, No. 11 Dayton vs. No. 6 Ohio State: Vee Sanford’s game winner lifts Flyers, 60-59
The first true game of the NCAA Tournament lived up to the hype as Sanford hit a game winner in the final seconds.
The second round of the NCAA Tournament started with a bang on Thursday afternoon as No. 11 Dayton stunned No. 6 Ohio State in the closing seconds to win 60-59.
With 17 seconds remaining, Aaron Craft cut through the lane and laid the ball in to put Ohio State up 59-58. Dayton had one final chance, though, and Vee Sanford responded with a runner just outside the lane that clanked in, giving the Flyers a 60-59 lead with 3.8 seconds left.
Craft took the ball the length of the floor and chucked a shot up up just before the buzzer sounded, but the ball hit the backboard and side of the rim before eventually rimming out.
Flyers win. It was a terrific game from the start. Neither team ever led by more than eight points, and it seemed to be a one-possession game throughout the final 10 minutes. There were 13 lead changes.
Dyshawn Pierre led Dayton with 12 points and eight rebounds. Devin Oliver chipped in with 11 points, and Sanford had 10 off the bench. It wasn't a pretty performance by any means, but Archie Miller's boys found a way to win.
Sam Thompson had a game-high 18 points for the Buckeyes. Craft put together another solid all-around performance with 16 points, five rebounds, four assists and four steals, though he also committed an uncharacteristic five turnovers. LaQuinton Ross did not shoot the ball well and turned it over five times, but he did manage to score 10 points.
The win advances Dayton to the third round. The Flyers will face the winner of Syracuse-Western Michigan on Saturday afternoon for a bid to the Sweet 16.
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