Buckeyes take on Loyola, Md., in Pittsburgh

Published Mar. 11, 2012 7:42 p.m. ET

foxsports

Ohio State doesn't have far to travel for the NCAA tournament.

The Buckeyes (27-7) will play Loyola, Md., in the second round in Pittsburgh on Thursday.

No. 7 Ohio State, a regular-season co-champion of the Big Ten, found out its NCAA fate just minutes after falling to eighth-ranked Michigan State 68-64 in the conference title game.

The Buckeyes were a second seed for the second time in the last three years. Two years ago, as a No. 2 seed they lost to Tennessee in the round of 16. A year ago, they were top-seeded and ranked No. 1 when they fell to Kentucky in the regional semifinals.

If they win their first game, the Buckeyes would play the winner of West Virginia and Gonzaga.