National Basketball Association
BOXSCORE | RECAP
Kansas 64, Ohio St. 62
When: 8:49 PM ET, Saturday, March 31, 2012
Where: Mercedes-Benz Superdome, New Orleans, Louisiana
Officials: # Patrick Adams, # Tom Eades, # Jamie Luckie
Attendance: 73361

Kansas 64, Ohio State 62:
Thomas Robinson and Jeff Withey won the matchup of two of the nation's top frontcourt duos, and the Jayhawks overcame a double-digit deficit to beat the Buckeyes for the second time this season and advance to a championship matchup with Kentucky on Monday.

Robinson scored 19 points to lead four Jayhawks in double figures, and Withey had eight rebounds and seven blocks while pestering Buckeyes star Jared Sullinger all night.

Sullinger, who missed the Buckeyes' regular-season loss at Kansas with an injury, had 13 points and 11 rebounds, but his post partner Deshaun Thomas was held to nine points while spending much of the second half on the bench in foul trouble.

The Buckeyes led by 13 with 24 seconds left before half, but Kansas reeled off a quick four-point spurt culminating with Travis Releford's layup at the buzzer to get within 34-25 at halftime.

The Jayhawks kept the momentum rolling at the outset of the second half, opening with a 13-4 run while holding the Buckeyes without a field goal for the first 6:58 of the half.

Kansas quickly thawed out after a cold first half in which it shot 37 percent (11 of 30), including 1 for 6 from 3-point range. Elijah Johnson scored seven of his 13 points during that stretch, but he picked up his third foul shortly after and went to the bench. Johnson also had 10 rebounds.

Travis Releford hit two free throws with 2:48 left to give Kansas a 56-55 lead -- its first advantage since it was 2-0.

Senior William Buford scored 19 points to lead the Buckeyes in his final collegiate game.

GAME NOTEBOOK:
The title game will be a rematch of Kansas and Kentucky coach John Calipari, whose Memphis team lost to Bill Self and the Jayhawks in the 2008 title game. … Former Kansas star Clyde Lovellette was recognized at halftime for being inducted into the College Basketball Hall of Fame. … The announced attendance of 73,361marks the largest crowd to see a Kansas game and the second-largest ever for an NCAA tournament game behind last year's Final Four in Houston. … Kansas has won seven of 10 all-time meetings with Ohio State, including five straight.
Top Game Performances
 
Ohio St.   Kansas
William Buford 19 Scoring Thomas Robinson 19
Aaron Craft 3 Assists Tyshawn Taylor 9
Jared Sullinger 11 Rebounds Elijah Johnson 10
William Buford 4 Free Throws Made Travis Releford 4
Aaron Craft 3 Steals Travis Releford 2
Jared Sullinger 3 Blocks Jeff Withey 7
Team Stats Summary
 
Team Points FG% 3PM-3PA FTM-FTA Assists Rebounds Blocks Steals Turnovers
Ohio St. 62 33.9 8-22 14-15 11 30 7 7 12
Kansas 64 44.6 3-11 11-14 14 41 8 5 17