BOISE, Idaho — Ohio State is not a 3-point shooting team. The Buckeyes don’t take a lot, don’t make a lot.
Back in the NCAA Tournament for the first time in three years, the Buckeyes went all-in on the 3, casting it up 40 times. The last couple they tried, both by Kam Williams, helped push Ohio State into the round of 32.
Williams made a tiebreaking four-point play with 1:36 left, then added a trio of free throws after being fouled on another 3 attempt, lifting Ohio State to an 81-73 victory over South Dakota State in the West Region on Thursday.
“As soon as I let it go I felt like it was going to go in and it just went in,” said Williams, who had 22 points. “It just felt great and everything just kind of got rolling from there.”
Fifth-seeded Ohio State (25-8) traded 3-point attempts with South Dakota State — 71 combined in all — before reeling off 16 straight points to build a 13-point second-half lead.
The scrappy Jackrabbits fought back with a late run, scoring 10 straight points to tie it at 70-all.
Williams answered — by being fouled on a pair of 3-pointers. He finished off the four-point play for a 74-70 lead and made all three free throws on the second, making it 77-70 with 64 seconds left.
Ohio State, which was tied for 287th nationally with 612 3-point attempts, went 12 for 40 from the arc.
“It’s not really who we are,” Ohio State coach Chris Holtmann said. “It wasn’t the game plan. It’s really difficult because they’re literally giving you tee-up 3s.”
Keita Bates-Diop had 24 points and 12 rebounds for the Buckeyes, who will face Gonzaga in the round of 32 on Saturday. The Zags steamrolled Ohio State 86-59 at the PK80 Invitational in November.
“The whole team is excited for this one,” Bates-Diop said. “We’ve been wanting this matchup ever since the bracket came out.”
No. 12 South Dakota State (28-7) hit 13 of 31 from 3-point range and Mike Daum scored 27 points. The Jackrabbits had their first NCAA Tournament win within grasp, only to watch it slip through their fingers by fouling Williams on the late 3-point attempts.
