Hoosiers survive last-second scare, win in OT

INDIANAPOLIS -- The rematch began sloppy.\nIt ended with an NCAA tournament feel.\nIU exacted revenge Tuesday night beating Maryland 80-74 in an overtime thriller that was a rematch to last year's NCAA championship. \n"It was a match up between two teams who are really good and wanted to win," said freshman guard Bracey Wright, who finished the game with 19 points. "It was a dogfight the whole way."\nIU called a 30-second timeout with 36.1 seconds remaining in the game after scratching back from a double-digit first half deficit. On the inbound, Kline got the ball to senior Tom Coverdale who hit a huge three at the top of the key that brought the Hoosiers within one, 68-67.\n"I think he's the most underrated player in the country…you can never count Coverdale out," IU Coach Mike Davis said of his senior point guard, who lead all scorers with 30 points last night. "No matter who he faces, no matter how he ranks as a guard, nine times out of 10, he always wins the battle." \nAs Maryland attempted to bring the ball back up the court, senior forward Jeff Newton tapped it loose and dove to the floor with senior point guard Steve Blake in a battle for possession. A jump ball was called, granting IU possession.\nOn the Hoosiers' next play however, another jump ball was called and the Terps regained possession. \nBlake, who finished the game with 24 points, brought the ball up and attempted to dish it to senior guard Drew Nicholas on the wing. IU freshman Marshall Strickland intercepted the pass, however and got the ball to Kline who was again fouled on a layup with the Terps still up one and 7.1 seconds remaining on the clock. \nThe Hoosier fans again made their presence felt as Kline stepped to the line. They quieted down as he prepared to shoot and, when the ball went though, tying the game at 68, they resumed their deafening cheers. Kline missed his second shot, which gave Maryland one last chance.\nBlake threw up a 50-foot prayer that swished through the net as the buzzer was sounding. The referees went to the replay to determine whether or not the miracle shot would count. \nFor a tense couple of minutes they deliberated on the matter and finally called both coaches to mid-court, informing them the shot would not count. \nThe two teams prepared for another five minutes of play.\nThe Terps were the first to score in overtime, as Nicholas was fouled by Strickland on a drive into the lane. He made both free throws to put the team ahead 70-68.\nOn the Hoosiers next two possessions they again looked to the charity stripe for scoring. Coverdale and Kline both went one for two on their trips to the line, making the score 72-70 in favor of Maryland.\nWith 2:35 remaining in OT, Kline was again fouled and again split his free throws. Newton rebounded the miss on his second attempt however. He was blocked on his first try, but regained possession of ball and laid it in to put the Hoosiers up 73-72.\nAfter the two teams traded layups, Strickland knocked down a baseline jumper that put IU ahead by 3. \nWith 17.2 seconds left, Kline split another pair of free throws to extend the lead to 78-74. Blake made a final attempt from long range that rattled in and out. Wright grabbed the rebound and dished it to Coverdale who was immediately fouled with 7.4 seconds left in the game. \nAs he walked back to the Hoosier's end of the court with the game all but won, he slapped the hands of fans in the front row. He then calmly stepped to the free throw line and sunk both shots, putting the game away at 80-74 and exacting revenge on the team that beat them for the National Championship.\n"I've been thinking about this (game) all summer." Coverdale, who finished the game with a game-high 30 points, said. "That's what me and Coach Treloar talked about before the game, we've been waiting for this all summer. We wanted to be undefeated coming into this game and then get some revenge back and we did and we're happy about it"