ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. - When Coach Bob McKillop found out his team from tiny Davidson College would play Ohio State in the first round of the NCAA tournament, he joked that Ohio State's band is bigger than Davidson's student body.
Davidson has 1,650 students to Ohio State's 47,952.
But the Wildcats, seeded 13th, nearly pulled off a Davidson-beats-Goliath story, leading for most of the first half before losing, 69-64, in a West Regional first-round game Thursday that was in doubt until the final moments.
Fourth-seeded Ohio State (24-7) managed to avoid being upset in the first round for the second year in a row, mostly because of guard Brian Brown's career-high 33 points.
With 35 seconds left, Davidson's Peter Anderer - who made six three-point baskets in the Southern Conference title game - knocked down a baseline three-pointer to cut Ohio State's lead to one, 65-64.
Davidson (21-10) sent Ohio State's Brent Darby to the line with 24 seconds left, but he sank both shots.
Davidson's Wayne Bernard, unable to get open for a three, drove to the basket for a layup, hoping to get fouled-only to see his shot roll across the back of the rim.
Davidson fouled Terence Dials with eight seconds left, and he made both free throws to help Ohio State hold on.
"It's just hard to lose a close one like that," said Anderer, who scored 11 points, making three three-pointers. Center Martin Ides - a Czech who is one of seven international players on Davidson's roster - led Davidson with 20.
Ohio State said it has put aside its disappointment about being sent west despite winning the Big Ten tournament. Brown was just glad the trip didn't end like last season, when Ohio State lost to Utah State in overtime.
"I feel a lot better than I felt last year," said Brown, who made 13 of 19 shots and three three-pointers. "I remember Ken Johnson was crying in the locker room because it was his last college game."
