ST. LOUIS, MO – The clock finally struck midnight for this year’s tournament Cinderella, though the Ohio Bobcats nearly made time stand still.
The Mid-American Conference tournament champions pushed the mighty North Carolina Tar Heels to the brink, before succumbing in overtime to the Midwest Region’s top seed by a 73-65 final. After ending regulation tied at 63, the Bobcats finally ran out of gas against the more-talented ACC powerhouse, and were outscored 10-2 in overtime.
Ohio’s Walter Offutt led all scorers with 26 points, but misfired on a free throw in the final half-minute of regulation which would have given the Bobcats a one-point lead. After UNC’s Harrison Barnes was stripped of the ball in the final seconds, a desperation half-court heave by Ohio clanged off the rim, which forced the first overtime game of the entire tournament.
North Carolina’s Tyler Zeller had a monster game, with 20 points and 23 rebounds, while teammate Reggie Bullock added 17 points and 10 rebounds. Ohio’s Nick Kellogg, son of CBS broadcaster Clark Kellogg, registered 14 points and 8 rebounds.
Wayne Larrivee and Fran Fraschilla called the action on the Westwood One Radio Network.
