Ohio State’s Eugene Brown III, right, blocks a shot by Loyola Chicago’s Aher Uguak during an NCAA Tournament first-round game Friday in Pittsburgh. Ohio State won, 54-41. Keith Srakocic/Associated Press PITTSBURGH — E.J. Liddell scored 16 points, Big Ten Freshman of the Year Malaki Branham added 14 and seventh-seeded Ohio State shut down 10th-seeded Loyola Chicago from start to finish, winning 54-41 in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Friday. The Buckeyes (20-11) advanced to play either Villanova or Delaware on Sunday in the South Region while preventing another March run by the Ramblers (25-8), who shot 27% (15 of 56) from the floor. Braden Norris led Loyola with 14 points, but star Lucas Williamson endured perhaps his worst game of the season. The winningest player in program history finished with four points on 1-of-10 shooting and committed three turnovers as Loyola fell in the first round after…
Continue Reading: NCAA men’s basketball: Ohio State’s defense too much for Loyola
