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Buckeyes fall to Tennessee in second round of NCAA Tournament

Spencer-Holbrookby:Spencer Holbrook•03/23/25•

SpencerHolbrook

Jaloni Cambridge
(© Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)

COLUMBUS — Ohio State had the advantages that come with being a higher seed. The Buckeyes were in their own gym with a raucous Schottenstein Center cheering them on.

But just like last year, when Kevin McGuff’s program had two home games to kick off the NCAA Tournament, Ohio State couldn’t make it out of its own arena. Last year, McGuff’s Buckeyes were upset as a No. 2 seed, losing to Duke.

This edition wasn’t much different. The No. 4 seed Buckeyes bowed out of the NCAA Tournament in the second round with a 82-67 loss to No. 5 seed Tennessee. Ohio State failed to reach the Sweet 16 for the second straight season despite hosting the first two rounds of the tournament.

The Buckeyes faltered early in the second half and fell down by as many as 17 before rallying with a 19-2 run to cut the Tennessee lead to five points, but the Lady Vols just kept scoring in waves after the Buckeyes burst.

Ohio State guard Jaloni Cambridge was a star despite the loss; she had 19 points while junior star Coti McMahon had 17.

The Buckeyes had a season-high 22 turnovers, gave up 14 offensive rebounds to the Lady Vols and allowed 21 second-chance points off of those offensive boards.

After getting to the Elite Eight two years ago, the Buckeyes couldn’t get past Duke in the second round last year despite having Final Four aspirations.

Now the Sweet 16 will elude McGuff and the Buckeyes for yet another March. They couldn’t get out of their own building for the second straight NCAA Tournament. And they’re still hoping to find the Sweet 16 after a second consecutive upset loss in as many years.

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