The Tennessee Volunteers Final Four hopes ended Thursday at the hands of No. 1 seed Ohio State, but the Vols didn't go out without a fight in the 85–84 loss.

The Volunteers were hot early, making five of their first six three pointers. 

A basket by junior Chris Lofton with 37 seconds left in the first half gave UT its biggest lead of the game at 49–29, and the Vols led 49–32 at the half.

But the bigger Buckeyes sprinted their way back into the game, cutting the lead to seven with only 3 ½ minutes gone by in the second half. 

Ohio State tied the game with 9:34 left on a Mike Conley Jr. free throw, and it went back and forth the rest of the way.

Just like the game at Ohio State earlier in the season, the South Regional Quarterfinal came down to free throws. 

Down by one, freshman Ramar Smith made 1-of-2 to tie it at 84 with 37 seconds left.  Conley was fouled by JaJuan Smith with six seconds to go, and made 1-of-2 as well for the one point lead.

Ramar Smith went the length of the court with the ball, his last second shot blocked by Greg Oden, who was in foul trouble most of the game.

Tennessee had four players in double figures, with Lofton having a team-high 24 points. 

Ramar Smith finished with 15 while JaJuan Smith added 14.  

The Vols shot a blistering 51 percent from 3-point land.  Both JaJuan Smith and Ryan Childress went 4-for-5 from behind the arc.

The Buckeyes were led by Ron Lewis's 25 points.  Freshman Mike Conley Jr. netted 17 points, and Ivan Harris put in 11.

At the free throw line, Tennessee was 8–17 for 47 percent, while the Buckeyes were 23–35, or 65 percent.

Tennessee's season ends with a record of 24–11, while Ohio State (33–3) moves on to the Elite Eight to face Memphis on Saturday.