By Adam Kilgore, PORTLAND, Ore. — D’Angelo Russell stood alone at the end, a black bandage over his left eye and a sneer on his face. Behind him, the players on Virginia Commonwealth’s bench leaned forward with their elbows on their knees, watching the player who ended their season sink two more free throws, one more twist of the knife. Russell lugged 10th-seeded Ohio State to a 75-72 overtime victory over the seventh-seeded Rams at Moda Center, and VCU’s season ended in the opening round of the NCAA tournament for the second consecutive season. Russell catalyzed the Buckeyes as they erased VCU’s 12-point first half lead, scoring 26 of his 28 points in the game’s final 30 minutes 7 seconds. He will carry the Buckeyes into a second-round meeting Saturday with No. 2 seed Arizona. [Scores, highlights and more from Thursday’s round of 64] At the final buzzer, VCU Coach Shaka Smart consoled senior Briante Weber, the all-American-caliber defensive stopper whose year ended in late January when he tore ligaments in his knee. He told Weber he has a bright future in basketball. For the Rams, the future had come. “It was a tough loss,” Smart said. “Really, really tough loss.” Late in the first half, Russell knew only frustration and VCU’s season still crackled with possibility…
Continue Reading: D’Angelo Russell carries Ohio State past VCU in NCAA tournament
