Men’s Basketball: No. 7 Ohio State falls 71-61 to No. 2 Villanova, eliminated from NCAA Tournament

The Buckeyes walk to the bench during the first half of No. 7 Ohio State's Round of 32 matchup against No. 2 Villanova Sunday at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh. Ohio State lost 71-61. Credit: Mackenzie Shanklin | Photo Editor

Junior forward E.J. Liddell (32) dribbles inside the arc during the first half of No. 7 Ohio State's Round of 32 matchup against No. 2 Villanova Sunday at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh. Ohio State lost 71-61. Credit: Mackenzie Shanklin | Photo Editor

Freshman guard Meechie Johnson Jr. (0) attempts a crossover during the first half of No. 7 Ohio State's Round of 32 matchup against No. 2 Villanova Sunday at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh. Ohio State lost 71-61. Credit: Mackenzie Shanklin | Photo Editor

Forward graduate Kyle Young (25) and junior E.J. Liddell (32) go up for a rebound during the first half of No. 7 Ohio State's Round of 32 matchup against No. 2 Villanova Sunday at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh. Ohio State lost 71-61. Credit: Mackenzie Shanklin | Photo Editor

Junior forward E.J. Liddell (32) attempts a floater during the first half of No. 7 Ohio State's Round of 32 matchup against No. 2 Villanova Sunday at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh. Ohio State lost 71-61. Credit: Mackenzie Shanklin | Photo Editor

Graduate guard Jamari Wheeler (55) dribbles during the first half of No. 7 Ohio State's Round of 32 matchup against No. 2 Villanova Sunday at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh. Ohio State lost 71-61. Credit: Mackenzie Shanklin | Photo Editor

Freshman guard Malaki Branham (22) attempts a mid-range jump shot during the first half of No. 7 Ohio State's Round of 32 matchup against No. 2 Villanova Sunday at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh. Ohio State lost 71-61. Credit: Mackenzie Shanklin | Photo Editor

Junior forward E.J. Liddell (32) takes a shot during the first half of No. 7 Ohio State's Round of 32 matchup against No. 2 Villanova Sunday at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh. Ohio State lost 71-61. Credit: Mackenzie Shanklin | Photo Editor

Freshman guard Malaki Branham (22) dribbles down the lane during the first half of No. 7 Ohio State's Round of 32 matchup against No. 2 Villanova Sunday at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh. Ohio State lost 71-61. Credit: Mackenzie Shanklin | Photo Editor

Graduate forward Kyle Young (25) shoots during the first half of No. 7 Ohio State's Round of 32 matchup against No. 2 Villanova Sunday at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh. Ohio State lost 71-61. Credit: Mackenzie Shanklin | Photo Editor

Sophomore guard Eugene Brown III (3) shoots a layup during the first half of No. 7 Ohio State's Round of 32 matchup against No. 2 Villanova Sunday at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh. Ohio State lost 71-61. Credit: Mackenzie Shanklin | Photo Editor

Freshman guard Malaki Branham (22) puts up a floater during the second half of No. 7 Ohio State's Round of 32 matchup against No. 2 Villanova Sunday at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh. Ohio State lost 71-61. Credit: Mackenzie Shanklin | Photo Editor

Sophomore guard Eugene Brown III (3) guards a Villanova player during the second half of No. 7 Ohio State's Round of 32 matchup against No. 2 Villanova Sunday at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh. Ohio State lost 71-61. Credit: Mackenzie Shanklin | Photo Editor

Junior forward E.J. Liddell (32) celebrates on the sideline during the second half of No. 7 Ohio State's Round of 32 matchup against No. 2 Villanova Sunday at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh. Ohio State lost 71-61. Credit: Mackenzie Shanklin | Photo Editor

Sophomore guard Eugene Brown III (3) shoots from behind the arc during the second half of No. 7 Ohio State's Round of 32 matchup against No. 2 Villanova Sunday at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh. Ohio State lost 71-61. Credit: Mackenzie Shanklin | Photo Editor

Sophomore forward Zed Key (23) embraces junior forward E.J. Liddell (32) during the second half of No. 7 Ohio State's Round of 32 matchup against No. 2 Villanova Sunday at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh. Ohio State lost 71-61. Credit: Mackenzie Shanklin | Photo Editor

Freshman guard Meechie Johnson Jr. (0) shoots from behind the arc during the second half of No. 7 Ohio State's Round of 32 matchup against No. 2 Villanova Sunday at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh. Ohio State lost 71-61. Credit: Mackenzie Shanklin | Photo Editor

Junior forward E.J. Liddell (32) steps back and shoots during the second half of No. 7 Ohio State's Round of 32 matchup against No. 2 Villanova Sunday at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh. Ohio State lost 71-61. Credit: Mackenzie Shanklin | Photo Editor

Graduate guard Jimmy Sotos (1) celebrates on the sideline during the second half of No. 7 Ohio State's Round of 32 matchup against No. 2 Villanova Sunday at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh. Ohio State lost 71-61. Credit: Mackenzie Shanklin | Photo Editor

Redshirt senior forward Justice Sueing (14) celebrates on the bench during the second half of No. 7 Ohio State's Round of 32 matchup against No. 2 Villanova Sunday at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh. Ohio State lost 71-61. Credit: Mackenzie Shanklin | Photo Editor

Freshman guard Malaki Branham (22) puts up a layup during the second half of No. 7 Ohio State's Round of 32 matchup against No. 2 Villanova Sunday at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh. Ohio State lost 71-61. Credit: Mackenzie Shanklin | Photo Editor

Head coach Chris Holtmann coaches from the sideline during the second half of No. 7 Ohio State's Round of 32 matchup against No. 2 Villanova Sunday at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh. Ohio State lost 71-61. Credit: Mackenzie Shanklin | Photo Editor

Graduate guard Jimmy Sotos (1) holds his head in his hands during the second half of No. 7 Ohio State's Round of 32 matchup against No. 2 Villanova Sunday at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh. Ohio State lost 71-61. Credit: Mackenzie Shanklin | Photo Editor

Freshman guard Malaki Branham (22) shoots from behind the arc during the second half of No. 7 Ohio State's Round of 32 matchup against No. 2 Villanova Sunday at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh. Ohio State lost 71-61. Credit: Mackenzie Shanklin | Photo Editor

Senior forward Justin Ahrens (10) looks onto the court during the second half of No. 7 Ohio State's Round of 32 matchup against No. 2 Villanova Sunday at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh. Ohio State lost 71-61. Credit: Mackenzie Shanklin | Photo Editor

Assistant coach Jake Diebler puts his head in his hands during the second half of No. 7 Ohio State's Round of 32 matchup against No. 2 Villanova Sunday at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh. Ohio State lost 71-61. Credit: Mackenzie Shanklin | Photo Editor

Sophomore forward Zed Key (23) puts up a floater during the second half of No. 7 Ohio State's Round of 32 matchup against No. 2 Villanova Sunday at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh. Ohio State lost 71-61. Credit: Mackenzie Shanklin | Photo Editor

Freshman guard Malaki Branham (22) puts up a layup during the second half of No. 7 Ohio State's Round of 32 matchup against No. 2 Villanova Sunday at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh. Ohio State lost 71-61. Credit: Mackenzie Shanklin | Photo Editor

The Buckeyes walk towards the bench after the second half of No. 7 Ohio State's Round of 32 matchup against No. 2 Villanova Sunday at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh. Ohio State lost 71-61. Credit: Mackenzie Shanklin | Photo Editor

Redshirt senior Justice Sueing (14) walks off the court with graduate guard Cedric Russell (2) after the second half of No. 7 Ohio State's Round of 32 matchup against No. 2 Villanova Sunday at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh. Ohio State lost 71-61. Credit: Mackenzie Shanklin | Photo Editor

Junior forward E.J. Liddell (32) walks off the court after the second half of No. 7 Ohio State's Round of 32 matchup against No. 2 Villanova Sunday at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh. Ohio State lost 71-61. Credit: Mackenzie Shanklin | Photo Editor

Graduate guard Jamari Wheeler (55) walks off the court after the second half of No. 7 Ohio State's Round of 32 matchup against No. 2 Villanova Sunday at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh. Ohio State lost 71-61. Credit: Mackenzie Shanklin | Photo Editor

The Buckeyes’ NCAA Tournament run and 2022 season came to an end in Pittsburgh Sunday.

No. 7 Ohio State (20-11,12-8 Big Ten) mounted a comeback bid that ultimately came up short in the second half, falling 71-61 to No. 2 Villanova.

Trailing by as many as 15 points with 16:12 left, the Buckeyes used a 20-8 run to pull within two points as 5:39 remained.

The Wildcats (27-7, 16-4 Big East) closed the game on an 11-3 run to pull away and advance to the Sweet Sixteen.

Freshman guard Malaki Branham led all scorers with 23 points as he shot 10-of-19 from the field. Junior forward E.J. Liddell added 17 points alongside six rebounds, three assists, three steals and two blocks.

Ohio State shot 42 percent from the field, including a 45.2 percent clip in the second half, and 32 percent from 3-point range. The Buckeyes had a 35-31 rebounding edge, but shot just 55 percent at the free throw line, going 6-for-11 at the charity stripe.

Graduate guard Collin Gillespie paced Villanova with 20 points. Graduate forward Jermaine Samuels added 17 points, redshirt sophomore forward Eric Dixon scored 13 and redshirt senior guard Caleb Daniels had 11.

Samuels and Liddell traded 3-pointers to begin the game until Villanova jumped ahead to a 17-7 lead with 12:24 left in the first half.

Ohio State pulled as close as within five points but trailed by as many as 12 in the opening period before starting hot in the second half.

The Buckeyes allowed Villanova to shoot 52 percent in the first half while shooting just 38.5 percent themselves. The Wildcats never trailed as they held a 39-28 edge at the end of the opening period, leading by as much as 12 points with 1:38 left in the first half.

Ohio State will enter the offseason expecting five incoming freshmen, including four four-stars. The Buckeyes’ 2022 recruiting class ranks within the top five across men’s college basketball, according to several recruiting services.Villanova will travel to San Antonio, Texas, to meet 11th-seeded Michigan in the Sweet Sixteen. The Wildcats and Wolverines will play at the AT&T Center Thursday with tip-off time still to be determined.