Boilermaker Breakdown

WEST LAFAYETTE -- They're called free throws, but with no time left on the clock in overtime of an IU-Purdue game, neither team could have had more invested in Carl Landry's 15-foot shot.\nPurdue's Landry missed the free throw, and IU took advantage of their second chance in the next overtime period, defeating Purdue 75-73. The win bumped IU (7-7, 2-1) back to a .500 record and gave Purdue (4-10, 0-4) their fourth straight Big Ten loss.\n"It's one of those free throws we'll never forget, he'll never forget," Purdue coach Gene Keady said. "He'll live with that the rest of his life."\nBefore Landry even had the chance to win the game, Purdue had to survive a whirlwind of controversy that erupted after covering the length of the floor in .9 seconds. \nWith 16 seconds left in overtime, IU had possession in a tied game. Junior guard Bracey Wright led the team all day and finished with a game-high 23 points. Davis put the ball in his hands, and Wright attempted to drive, but his shot was broken up. Fellow junior guard Marshall Strickland picked up the loose ball, attempted a put-back and was fouled with .9 seconds left.\nStrickland made the first to give IU the lead, but when he attempted to purposely miss the second and run out the clock, the shot fell.\n"We try to make some that we miss, and we try to miss some that we make," IU coach Mike Davis said. "He tried to hit the front of the rim, but it came out all right in the end."\nPurdue guard Andrew Ford then launched his pass the length of the floor to Landry, who was waiting under the basket. Landry caught the ball, turned and scored, getting fouled by freshman guard A.J. Ratliff in the process. \nThe referees reviewed the play, and even though the red light was on before the shot was released, NCAA rules say the clock overrules the light, so the play stood.\n"I know the basketball doesn't lie," Strickland said. "We couldn't end the game like that."\nSimply reaching overtime was an achievement in itself for the Hoosiers, who trailed by as much as 10 points early in the second half. IU fought back to tie the game at 32 when IU's youth took over.\n"(The freshmen) were the key reasons why we made that run," Wright said. "They've been thrown in the fire really fast, so they've had to learn on the fly. They've grown up in a hurry."\nAfter tying the game, Ratliff blocked Purdue guard Xavier Price's three-point attempt and finished with a dunk. It was IU's first lead since 1-0. On Purdue's next drive, Ratliff picked on Price again, stealing his pass and finishing with an alley-oop to freshman forward James Hardy. \nJust a minute later, Hardy again attempted a layup and missed. But freshman center D.J. White put back the miss with an emphatic dunk. Wright continued to build the momentum with another dunk, and freshmen forward Robert Vaden and Hardy followed with threes.\n"Now we are starting to get the chemistry together, and we're just all coming together," Hardy said.\nIU rode White to victory in the second overtime, taking advantage of a foul-ridden Purdue frontcourt. White was able to score six points in the period to bring his game total to 16. White also led the team with eight rebounds. \n"It does (a lot of) good for my confidence to know I can step up for the team and do what I did and put points on the board and provide energy for this team," White said.\nIU's four freshmen combined for 41 points, 21 rebounds and 7 blocks in their first rivalry game with Purdue. They all agreed it was one of the most emotional and interesting games they had ever been a part of.\n"This is at the top," White said. "I haven't been in too many close games like this that go down to the wire, and for me to be in a game like this and keep my composure and pull out a win -- it was great."\n-- Contact Sports Editor Brian Janosch at bjanosch@indiana.edu.