BCS redux: Buckeyes and Gators in finale

ATLANTA – What if someone told you Ohio State star center Greg Oden would play 3 minutes of the first half because of foul trouble, not score his first basket until 18 minutes left in the game, and the Buckeyes would win without even needing a last-second shot?

Well, guess what …

After spending most of the first half in cold-storage, Oden scored all 13 of his points after intermission and lifted Ohio State to a 67-60, national semifinal victory against Georgetown at the Georgia Dome on Saturday.

“I was out 17 minutes,” Oden said of his frustration. “I just wanted to get in there and tear the rim down.”

The victory forwarded Ohio State (35-3) into Monday night’s national title game against Florida, which defeated UCLA in the other semifinal.

Ohio State also made it to the title game in football this season – against Florida. The Buckeyes hope it goes better in basketball.

Ohio State is seeking its first national basketball title since 1960, the Jerry Lucas-led team that featured a bench-player named Bob Knight.

Many predicted Saturday’s game would come down to how the officials would mediate a showdown involving Oden, the 7-foot freshman, and 7-2 Georgetown junior Roy Hibbert.

It was clear from the outset the referees would call a tight game. Oden picked up two fouls inside 3 minutes and had to go to the bench, but Georgetown couldn’t take advantage.

Hibbert joined Oden on the bench after picking up his second foul with 6:48 left and the rest of the game was a chess match with both coaches trying to figure out how to deploy their tallest players.

Hibbert played only 10 minutes in the first half and only 24 of 40 in the game.

“I was at the wrong place at the wrong time,” Hibbert said. “I just needed to make smarter decisions when I was out there.”

Oden played only half the game, 20 minutes, and both players ended the game with four fouls.

What happened?

“The ref blew the whistle,” Oden explained.

In Oden’s first-half absence, fellow freshman and former high school teammate Mike Conley Jr. took control, scoring 11 points to help Ohio State to a four-point halftime lead. Conley finished with 15.

Buckeyes coach Thad Matta clapped his hands as he ran off the court at intermission, knowing Conley’s effort had bought his team the lead and some time.

“Our guys did a great job stepping up,” Matta said. “Michael was tremendous.”

Foul trouble would dictate almost every second-half move.

The pivotal point came with the game tied, 44-44, with 8:50 left, when Hibbert had to leave after picking up his fourth foul. Matta immediately put Oden, with three fouls, back in the game.

In the next 90 seconds, Ohio State went on a 6-0 run that started with an Oden basket.

The Buckeyes made it 51-44 when Oden made one of two free throws after missing on a windmill slam-dunk attempt.

The closest Georgetown (30-7) would get was 56-52, after a Jesse Sapp 3-point basket with 3:21 left.

The big mystery for Georgetown was the play of junior forward Jeff Green.

Green, who averages 14.4 points, did not take an official shot until 3:16 left in the first half and finished with nine points.

Ohio State 67, Georgetown 60

Georgetown (30-7)—Summers 1-10 1-2 3, Green 4-5 1-2 9, Hibbert 9-13 1-4 19, Wallace 7-12 0-0 19, Sapp 4-9 0-0 10, Macklin 0-0 0-0 0, Rivers 0-0 0-0 0, Crawford 0-0 0-0 0, Ewing Jr. 0-2 0-0 0. Totals 25-51 3-8 60.

Ohio State (35-3)—Harris 3-7 2-4 9, Oden 6-11 1-4 13, Conley Jr. 7-12 0-0 15, Lewis 1-8 7-8 9, Butler 4-9 0-0 10, Lighty 2-3 1-1 5, Cook 0-4 2-2 2, Terwilliger 1-1 0-0 2, Hunter 1-2 0-0 2. Totals 25-57 13-19 67.

Halftime—Ohio State 27, Georgetown 23. 3-Point Goals—Georgetown 7-21 (Wallace 5-9, Sapp 2-7, Ewing Jr. 0-1, Summers 0-4), Ohio State 4-14 (Butler 2-6, Harris 1-1, Conley Jr. 1-3, Cook 0-1, Lewis 0-3). Fouled Out—None. Rebounds—Georgetown 30 (Green 12), Ohio State 37 (Oden 9). Assists—Georgetown 17 (Sapp 4), Ohio State 13 (Conley Jr. 6). Total Fouls—Georgetown 15, Ohio State 10. A—NA.