Ohio State had won 11 games, but were outplayed from the start by Wichita State LOS ANGELES – There might or might not be any shockers at the Final Four in Atlanta, but there will be Shockers.
Wichita State Shockers.
For the first time in 48 years.
A lot of people said just about anything might happen in this supposedly wide-open tournament, and that was especially true of the West Regional, where the Nos. 1, 3, 4 and 5 seeds didn't survive the first weekend.
BOX SCORE: Wichita State 70, Ohio State 66
NCAA TOURNAMENT: Full bracket, scores
Then No. 2 seed Ohio State went down Saturday, despite an amazing, heart-stopping rally late in the second half.
No. 9 seed Wichita State, after blowing nearly all of a 20-point second-half lead, held on for a 70-66 victory.
Ohio State, which trailed 56-36 with 11 minutes left, got as close as three points down the stretch, but the suddenly shocked Shockers made just enough plays to secure the win.
This was Wichita State's first regional final in 32 years, and the Shockers will be going to the Final Four for the second time in school history. In 1965, they lost a national semifinal to John Wooden's second championship team at UCLA.
Wichita State played rugged and quick defense the whole game and had a couple of sudden offensive bursts that made the difference, particularly an 8-0 first-half run that gave them a 25-15 lead.
At the Final Four, the Shockers (30-8) will play the winner of Sunday's Louisville-Duke Midwest Region final.
Ohio State (29-8) had won its last 11 games but was knocked on its heels from the start by the more aggressive Shockers.
For three-quarters of the game, Wichita State was significantly better in nearly every category, especially rebounding, holding a double-digit advantage much of the game.
PAY DAY: Wichita State coach will make $136K for win
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And Ohio State shot miserably most of the game – around 25% for a long time. Overall, the Buckeyes shot 31.1%.
Wichita State point guard Malcolm Armstead got the better of his more heralded counterpart, Ohio State's Aaron Craft, and that set a tone.
Armstead had 14 points, seven rebounds and three assists. Craft missed 10 of 12 shots and finished with nine points, seven rebounds and two assists.
Shockers forward Cleanthony Early and backup guard Fred VanVleet had 12 apiece.
Ohio State leading scorer Deshaun Thomas had 21 points but missed nine of 13 shots in the first half. LaQuinton Ross, the hero of Thursday's regional semifinal victory against Arizona, had 19 points.
The first two possessions of the game showed how it was going to be.
Wichita State forward Carl Hall blocked Ohio State's first shot attempt, a drive by Lenzelle Smith Jr.
Then Ohio State center Amir Williams blocked Wichita State's first shot attempt, a drive by Armstead.
Two of the toughest defenses in the country were going to go it with intensity.
Ohio State missed its first seven shots, and not because the Buckeyes are terrible shooters. They just had a hard time finding a shot attempt that didn't come with a Wichita State hand in their faces.
The Shockers weren't exactly lighting it up offensively, either, as the game lumbered along with scores of 9-7 and 13-13 and, with eight minutes to go in the half, 17-15 Wichita State.
Then, out of nowhere, the Shockers exploded to an 8-0 run in 58 seconds to take a 10-point lead.
The Buckeyes had a hard time responding, as Thomas and Craft were ice cold and so were some of their teammates against the Shockers' man-to-man and zone defenses.
Ohio State shot 24.2% overall in the first half, 20% on three-point attempts.
Wichita State led 35-22 despite shooting just 35.5%.
Early in the second half, the Shockers extended the lead, and when Wichita State guard Ron Baker was fouled on a three-point attempt and made all three free throws, the Shockers had a 20-point lead – 51-31 – with 12:39 left.
But it would not be easy. Not at all, as the Buckeyes charged almost all the way back.
Almost.
THE BEST PHOTOS OF THE ELITE EIGHT 
Wichita State head coach Gregg Marshall celebrates cutting down the net after beating Ohio State 70-66 in the West Regional final to advance to the Final Four.
Robert Hanashiro, USA TODAY Related story Fullscreen ![Wichita State's Carl Hall, left, celebrates winning the West Regional final 70-66 over Ohio State.]()
Wichita State's Carl Hall, left, celebrates winning the West Regional final 70-66 over Ohio State.
Richard Mackson, USA TODAY Sports Related story Fullscreen ![Wichita State head coach Gregg Marshall hoists the West Regional trophy after the Shockers topped second-seeded Ohio State 70-66 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.]()
Wichita State head coach Gregg Marshall hoists the West Regional trophy after the Shockers topped second-seeded Ohio State 70-66 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.
Jayne Kamin-Oncea, USA TODAY Sports Related story Fullscreen ![Wichita State players celebrate after topping Ohio State 70-66 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles to advance to the Final Four.]()
Wichita State players celebrate after topping Ohio State 70-66 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles to advance to the Final Four.
Jayne Kamin-Oncea, USA TODAY Sports Related story Fullscreen ![Wichita State's Demetric Williams, right, celebrates after topping Ohio State 70-66 in the West Regional final to advance to the Final Four.]()
Wichita State's Demetric Williams, right, celebrates after topping Ohio State 70-66 in the West Regional final to advance to the Final Four.
Jayne Kamin-Oncea, USA TODAY Sports Related story Fullscreen ![Wichita State players celebrate on the bench in the second half of the West Regional final vs. Ohio State. The Shockers won 70-66 to advance to the Final Four.]()
Wichita State players celebrate on the bench in the second half of the West Regional final vs. Ohio State. The Shockers won 70-66 to advance to the Final Four.
Jayne Kamin-Oncea, USA TODAY Sports Related story Fullscreen ![Ohio State guard Aaron Craft is defended by Carl Hall (22) and Cleanthony Early in the second half of the West Regional final at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.]()
Ohio State guard Aaron Craft is defended by Carl Hall (22) and Cleanthony Early in the second half of the West Regional final at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.
Richard Mackson, USA TODAY Sports Related story Fullscreen ![Ohio State's Aaron Craft shakes hands with teammate Shannon Scott early in the second half of the West Regional final at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.]()
Ohio State's Aaron Craft shakes hands with teammate Shannon Scott early in the second half of the West Regional final at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.
Robert Hanashiro, USA TODAY Related story Fullscreen ![Wichita State's Carl Hall is elbowed in the chin by Ohio State's Deshaun Thomas as he attempted a shot in the second half.]()
Wichita State's Carl Hall is elbowed in the chin by Ohio State's Deshaun Thomas as he attempted a shot in the second half.
Richard Mackson, USA TODAY Sports Related story Fullscreen ![Ohio State head coach Thad Matta reacts during the first half. Wichita State led 35-22 at the break.]()
Ohio State head coach Thad Matta reacts during the first half. Wichita State led 35-22 at the break.
Richard Mackson, USA TODAY Sports Related story Fullscreen ![Ohio State's Aaron Craft and Wichita State's Cleanthony Early look to get a handle on a loose ball in the first half.]()
Ohio State's Aaron Craft and Wichita State's Cleanthony Early look to get a handle on a loose ball in the first half.
Richard Mackson, USA TODAY Sports Related story Fullscreen ![Wichita State's Carl Hall shoots over Ohio State's Deshaun Thomas.]()
Wichita State's Carl Hall shoots over Ohio State's Deshaun Thomas.
Jayne Kamin-Oncea, USA TODAY Sports Related story Fullscreen ![Wichita State's Malcolm Armstead tries to shoot on Ohio State's Amir Williams in the first half.]()
Wichita State's Malcolm Armstead tries to shoot on Ohio State's Amir Williams in the first half.
Richard Mackson, USA TODAY Sports Related story Fullscreen ![Ohio State's Deshaun Thomas (1) and center Amir Williams (23) defend against Wichita State's Carl Hall in the first half of the West Regional final at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.]()
Ohio State's Deshaun Thomas (1) and center Amir Williams (23) defend against Wichita State's Carl Hall in the first half of the West Regional final at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.
Richard Mackson, USA TODAY Sports Related story Fullscreen ![Wichita State's Malcolm Armstead tries to shoot over Ohio State forward Deshaun Thomas in the first half.]()
Wichita State's Malcolm Armstead tries to shoot over Ohio State forward Deshaun Thomas in the first half.
Richard Mackson, USA TODAY Sports Related story Fullscreen ![Wichita State's Ron Baker goes up for a layup against Ohio State's Evan Ravenel in the first half of their Elite Eight matchup in Los Angeles.]()
Wichita State's Ron Baker goes up for a layup against Ohio State's Evan Ravenel in the first half of their Elite Eight matchup in Los Angeles.
Jayne Kamin-Oncea, USA TODAY Sports Related story Fullscreen ![Wichita State's Malcolm Armstead dribbles the ball in front of Ohio State forward Evan Ravenel (30) and Shockers forward Carl Hall (22) in the first half.]()
Wichita State's Malcolm Armstead dribbles the ball in front of Ohio State forward Evan Ravenel (30) and Shockers forward Carl Hall (22) in the first half.
Robert Hanashiro, USA TODAY Related story Fullscreen ![Ohio State's Deshaun Thomas shoots against Wichita State's Ehimen Orukpe in the first half of the West Regional final at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.]()
Ohio State's Deshaun Thomas shoots against Wichita State's Ehimen Orukpe in the first half of the West Regional final at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.
Robert Hanashiro, USA TODAY Related story Fullscreen ![Wichita State's Tekele Cotton (32) and Ohio State's Aaron Craft go after a loose ball in the first half.]()
Wichita State's Tekele Cotton (32) and Ohio State's Aaron Craft go after a loose ball in the first half.
Richard Mackson, USA TODAY Sports Related story Fullscreen ![Ohio State's Amir Williams gets the opening tipoff against Wichita State's Cleanthony Early to start the West Regional final in Los Angeles.]()
Ohio State's Amir Williams gets the opening tipoff against Wichita State's Cleanthony Early to start the West Regional final in Los Angeles.
Jayne Kamin-Oncea, USA TODAY Sports Related story Fullscreen ![Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim cuts down the net after the Orange defeated Marquette 55-39 to win the East Regional and advance to the program's first Final Four since 2003.]()
Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim cuts down the net after the Orange defeated Marquette 55-39 to win the East Regional and advance to the program's first Final Four since 2003.
Bob Donnan, USA TODAY Sports Related story Fullscreen ![Syracuse's C.J. Fair celebrates with teammates after defeating Marquette 55-39 in Washington to advance to the Final Four.]()
Syracuse's C.J. Fair celebrates with teammates after defeating Marquette 55-39 in Washington to advance to the Final Four.
Bob Donnan, USA TODAY Sports Related story Fullscreen ![Syracuse's Rakeem Christmas celebrates with fans after defeating Marquette in the East Regional final.]()
Syracuse's Rakeem Christmas celebrates with fans after defeating Marquette in the East Regional final.
Geoff Burke, USA TODAY Sports Related story Fullscreen ![Syracuse players hold up the East Regional trophy after defeating Marquette 55-39 at the Verizon Center in Washington.]()
Syracuse players hold up the East Regional trophy after defeating Marquette 55-39 at the Verizon Center in Washington.
Geoff Burke, USA TODAY Sports Related story Fullscreen ![Jim Boeheim holds the East Regional trophy after the 55-39 win over Marquette.]()
Jim Boeheim holds the East Regional trophy after the 55-39 win over Marquette.
Geoff Burke, USA TODAY Sports Related story Fullscreen ![Syracuse's C.J. Fair, left, celebrates with Michael Carter-Williams after topping Marquette 55-39 in the Elite Eight, earning a trip to the Final Four.]()
Syracuse's C.J. Fair, left, celebrates with Michael Carter-Williams after topping Marquette 55-39 in the Elite Eight, earning a trip to the Final Four.
Bob Donnan, USA TODAY Sports Related story Fullscreen ![Syracuse players celebrate after beating Marquette 55-39 in the East Regional final in Washington to earn the program's first Final Four berth since 2003.]()
Syracuse players celebrate after beating Marquette 55-39 in the East Regional final in Washington to earn the program's first Final Four berth since 2003.
Bob Donnan, USA TODAY Sports Related story Fullscreen ![East Regional final (Washington): Syracuse's Michael Carter-Williams (1) and forward James Southerland (back) celebrate in the final seconds of the Orange's 55-39 win.]()
East Regional final (Washington): Syracuse's Michael Carter-Williams (1) and forward James Southerland (back) celebrate in the final seconds of the Orange's 55-39 win. Geoff Burke, USA TODAY Sports
