BROOKLYN, N.Y. — With exactly five seconds remaining in what had already been a surprising first half, Ohio State's JaQuan Lyle took an inbounds pass from Marc Loving underneath their team's own basket. Lyle, the Buckeyes’ true freshman point guard, dribbled the ball five times as he sprinted down the left side of the court, then crossed over and headed directly toward the Ohio State logo painted on the floor of the Barclays Center.
With Kentucky’s Jamal Murray draped all over him, Lyle sprung to the air off both feet, fading to his right, and let fly a deep, 25-foot 3-point attempt.