Disappointment

CHICAGO -- The men's basketball team faced a bittersweet disappointment in the Big Ten tournament March 11. \nAfter having won one game in three years at the tournament, the Hoosiers advanced to the championship game. \nBut they lost to Iowa in that game. Barely.\nOne day after blocking a last-second, potential game-tying shot, junior center Kirk Haston had his own last-second, potential game-winning shot blocked by Iowa forward Reggie Evans as the Hoosiers fell to the Hawkeyes 63-61 in the championship game of the Big Ten Tournament.\nWith 9.4 seconds remaining and Iowa leading by two, Iowa forward Duez Henderson missed two free throws.\nJunior guard Dane Fife received the outlet pass, dribbled up the right side of the court and passed to Haston between the right wing and the top of the key. Haston took the three-point shot, which came up several feet short of the basket.\n"I had two clear looks at the basket," said Haston, who missed a three-pointer with 10.9 seconds remaining. "I just didn't hit them."\nIU 58, Illinois 56\nHaston blocked a potential game-tying layup by Frank Williams with .9 seconds remaining to seal IU's 58-56 victory against Illinois Saturday in the semi-finals of the Big Ten championships.\nSophomore guard Tom Coverdale had an opportunity to make the win certain when he stepped to the free-throw line with 8.9 seconds left.\nHe missed the first shot. The second bounced out and into Williams' hands.\n"There were two guys there, but it was a clear lane," Williams said. "Then Haston came over and made a great play."\nHaston finished with 16 points, two rebounds and one game-winning block. Coverdale led all scorers with 17 points, and freshman forward Jared Jeffries added 10.\nIU 64, Wisconsin 52\nInterim head coach Mike Davis wanted to play Illinois and got his wish, thanks to a 64-54 win in the Hoosiers' first game of the Big Ten Tournament. \nWisconsin is known for its tenacious defense, but IU's defense stole the show. Wisconsin made 37 percent of its shots and didn't score a field goal in the first nine minutes of the second half.\n"At the half, Coach Davis stressed defense to us," Haston said. "He wanted us to take Wisconsin out of their offense. And once we started to click offensively, they were forced to take quick shots."\nOn the strength of their defense, the Hoosiers opened up the second half with a 17-2 run that built IU's lead to 11 points and lasted nearly 10 minutes. Sophomore forward Jeffrey Newton played a critical role during the run, scoring six points, grabbing three rebounds and blocking two shots in 10 minutes. Newton finished with 11 points, nine rebounds and two blocks.