AP/ March 24, 2012, 9:50 PM

Ohio State beats Syracuse to reach Final 4

Ohio State forward Jared Sullinger (0) reacts in front of Syracuse forward Rakeem Christmas, left, during the first half of the East Regional final game in the NCAA men's college basketball tournament, Saturday, March 24, 2012, in Boston. / AP Photo/Elise Amendola

(AP) BOSTON - Jared Sullinger recovered from first-half foul trouble to score 19 points and grab seven rebounds, helping Ohio State beat Syracuse 77-70 on Saturday to advance to the Final Four.

It will be the Buckeyes' first trip to the NCAA semifinals since 2007.

Deshaun Thomas scored 14 with nine rebounds for Ohio State (31-7), which led by eight points with 59 seconds to play and held on after the Orange cut it to three. The Buckeyes made 13 of 14 free throws in the final 68 seconds.

Brandon Triche scored 15 points and Baye Keita had 10 rebounds for Syracuse (34-3). The Orange were hoping for a return trip to New Orleans, where they won their only national championship in 2003.