Ohio State Buckeyes guard Aaron Craft (4) shoots against Arizona Wildcats forward Grant Jerrett (33) and forward Kevin Parrom (3) during the second half of the semifinals of the West regional of the NCAA tournament. (Photo: Robert Hanashiro, USA TODAY Sports) LOS ANGELES — Seeds No. 1, 3, 4 and 5 had all been knocked out of the Wild, Wide-Open West, and it looked like No.2 was history, too, after 20 minutes of an NCAA regional semifinal Thursday night. But second-seeded Ohio State, which trailed by as many as 11 points in the first half, played like a different team in the second, seizing control with a 10-0 run at the start . . . then losing control in the final minute, when Arizona guard Mark Lyons' three-point play tied it 70-70 with 21 seconds left. NCAA TOURNAMENT: Updated bracket BRACKET BRIEFING: Everything you need to know Then, looking for a hero, Ohio State guard Aaron Craft, who won the Buckeyes' last game with a last-second three-pointer, passed it this time to red-hot LaQuinton Ross. Ross calmly drained a three-point shot with two seconds left for a 73-70 Ohio State victory. The Buckeyes (29-7) advance to a regional final for the second consecutive year. Last year, they made it to the Final Four, where they lost a semifinal to Kansas. Forward Deshaun Thomas led the Buckeyes, as usual, with a 20 points. But it was Ross, a silky 6-7 sophomore, who made big buckets down the stretch, including the game-winner, and had 17 points, 14 of them in the second half. And Craft was his usual all-over-the-court factor, scoring 13 with five rebounds, five assists and bulldog defense on Arizona's leading scorer, guard Mark Lyons. PHOTOS: MARCH MADNESS PASSIONATE FANS Lyons had 10 points in the first half, when the Wildcats had their way, was quiet most of the second half but got hot down the stretch and finished with 23 points. Arizona senior forward Solomon Hill, with the Wildcats struggling offensively in the second half, made a valiant effort to keep his team in the game. He had 16 points. Ohio State had controlled the game most of the second half after its early run but barely held on. The Buckeyes had the ball and a three-point lead in the final minute, but Craft missed a driving layup and Arizona ran out, leading to a Lyons layup and a foul. He made the free throw and it was tied at 70 with 21 seconds left. BOX SCORE: Ohio State 73, Arizona 70 http://usatoday.com/http://usatoday.com/http://usatoday.com/http://usatoday.com/http://usatoday.com/http://usatoday.com/http://usatoday.com/http://usatoday.com/http://usatoday.com/http://usatoday.com/http://usatoday.com/http://usatoday.com/http://usatoday.com/http://usatoday.com/http://usatoday.com/http://usatoday.com/http://usatoday.com/http://usatoday.com/http://usatoday.com/http://usatoday.com/http://usatoday.com/http://usatoday.com/http://usatoday.com/http://usatoday.com/http://usatoday.com/http://usatoday.com/http://usatoday.com/http://usatoday.com/http://usatoday.com/http://usatoday.com/http://usatoday.com/http://usatoday.com/http://usatoday.com/http://usatoday.com/http://usatoday.com/http://usatoday.com/http://usatoday.com/http://usatoday.com/http://usatoday.com/http://usatoday.com/http://usatoday.com/http://usatoday.com/http://usatoday.com/http://usatoday.com/http://usatoday.com/http://usatoday.com/http://usatoday.com/http://usatoday.com/http://usatoday.com/http://usatoday.com/http://usatoday.com/http://usatoday.com/http://usatoday.com/http://usatoday.com/http://usatoday.com/http://usatoday.com/http://usatoday.com/http://usatoday.com/http://usatoday.com/http://usatoday.com/http://usatoday.com/http://usatoday.com/http://usatoday.com/http://usatoday.com/http://usatoday.com/http://usatoday.com/http://usatoday.com/http://usatoday.com/http://usatoday.com/http://usatoday.com/http://usatoday.com/http://usatoday.com/http://usatoday.com/http://usatoday.com/http://usatoday.com/http://usatoday.com/http://usatoday.com/http://usatoday.com/http://usatoday.com/http://usatoday.com/http://usatoday.com/http://usatoday.com/http://usatoday.com/http://usatoday.com/http://usatoday.com/http://usatoday.com/http://usatoday.com/http://usatoday.com/http://usatoday.com/http://usatoday.com/http://usatoday.com/http://usatoday.com/http://usatoday.com/http://usatoday.com/#FANMADNESS: Share your photos with USA TODAY Sports Craft, at the top of the key, milked the clock, then went around a screen by Ross and delivered a bounce pass back to him for the open shot. Ohio State guard Lenzelle Smith Jr., who was scoreless in the first half, scored the first four points of the second half, sparking a 10-0 run that gave the Buckeyes a 44-38 lead. Arizona (27-8) went more than five minutes at the beginning of the second half without a point. Ohio State, which holds its opponents on the average to less than 60 points, was hoping to play this game in the 50s or 60s, but the early pace favored Arizona. Lyons hurt them outside and with drives, and the Wildcats were flexing their inside advantage, too, and Arizona was up 31-20 with seven minutes left. If it weren't for Thomas' 16 first-half points, the Buckeyes would have been in serious trouble. But they rallied in the final minutes of the first half to get within four at halftime. THE BEST PHOTOS OF THE NCAA TOURNAMENT Story Highlights
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