INDIANAPOLIS - The Indiana Hoosiers enjoyed a measure of payback against the Maryland Terrapins in a wild edition of the Atlantic Coast Conference/Big Ten Challenge last night, as 10th-ranked Indiana erased a four-point deficit late in regulation and scored the final seven points in overtime to overtake the ninth-ranked Terps, 80-74, before 15,715 at Conseco Fieldhouse.
Indiana senior point guard Tom Coverdale equaled his career-high with 30 points to lead the Hoosiers (5-0), as Indiana handed Maryland its first loss of the season and somewhat evened a score with the Terps, who beat the Hoosiers in the NCAA tournament championship game eight months ago.
It was a brutal way for the Terps (3-1) to go down. Maryland controlled the boards and played tremendous defense for most of the night by holding Indiana to 29.9 percent shooting. The Terps led by double digits in each half and got superb efforts from senior point guard Steve Blake and senior forward Ryan Randle.
But Maryland, which nearly won the game in regulation when Blake's desperation, 55-foot shot went in but did not count since he launched it just after the buzzer, could not take care of the ball in the clutch and could not make up for a disparity at the free-throw line.
Indiana drew 13 fouls, made 27 of 39 free throws and committed just four turnovers. Maryland drew 26 fouls, made 10 of 14 foul shots and committed 16 turnovers.
The Terps committed two costly turnovers in the final 24 seconds of regulation, failing in each case to execute an inbounds play. In the process, they failed to protect or extend a 68-67 lead that Indiana forward Sean Kline erased by making a free throw with seven seconds left, sending the game into an extra period.
Randle earned his first double double as a Terp by finishing with 20 points and a game-high 16 rebounds, his career high in each category. He also led the team with five blocked shots. Blake scored a career-high 22 points and had seven rebounds.
"This definitely ranks right up there as one of the toughest losses ever," said Maryland senior guard Drew Nicholas, who finished with 12 points and four assists. "We did some good things. I think our defense was all right for the most part. But we gave up second shots and gave them a chance to put the ball in the basket. Everybody is to blame. We had chances to win the game in regulation and in overtime, and we didn't get it done."
The Hoosiers, who trailed by 14 points in the first half and were down by 11 early in the second half, won by scoring the game's final seven points, after the Terps had taken a 74-73 lead on a four-foot bank shot by senior guard Calvin McCall - his first points of the night.
"Those were two teams that played hard. Indiana did it when they had to," Maryland coach Gary Williams said. "We had chances, but we made mistakes. Coverdale and Blake were great to watch. It was a great night for college basketball. We still should have won the game."
The Terps had Indiana on the ropes repeatedly. The Hoosiers missed 24 of their first 27 shots, falling behind, 29-15, but feasted on Maryland turnovers and finally got hot behind Coverdale and freshman guard Bracey Wright (19 points, 7-for-25 shooting), pulling to within 31-27 at the half.
Maryland then scored the first seven points of the second half - five from Blake - to make it 38-27 two minutes into the half. But the Terps ran into more problems, starting with the referees' whistles. Over a three-minute period, senior center Tahj Holden drew three fouls and fouled out with 13:37 remaining.
That put pressure on Maryland's young bench, which responded impressively. Freshman forward Travis Garrison led the newcomers with eight points and four rebounds.
"We've been playing good defense, but I've been worried about our offense, because we lost a lot of players [from last year's championship squad]," Williams said. "When you shoot 14 free throws and the other team shoots 39 and you're trying to get the ball inside all night, it's tough. Indiana got to the foul line by getting the ball inside."
The Hoosiers battled back to take their first lead at 46-44 with 10:04 left. Indiana forward Jeff Newton (13 points, 14 rebounds) made two free throws to make it 48-44, and the home crowd roared. But the Terps dug in behind Randle and Blake. Randle's slam and layup tied the game at 48 with 8:50 to go, and Garrison's short jumper gave the Terps the lead.
The Terps maintained a slim lead for most of the stretch run, making it 66-63 with 2:06 left on a three-point play by Randle, and 68-64 on a layup by Garrison with 39 seconds left. And just as it appeared Maryland was about to steal a huge victory on the road, Coverdale made a clutch three-pointer with 28 seconds left.
The teams then traded turnovers, and the Terps botched their second inbounds play in the closing seconds of regulation, opening the door for Kline (6-for-14 at the line) to tie the game again and give the Hoosiers life.
"Me and Steve [Blake] are the guys who are supposed to make those plays, and we didn't," said Nicholas, alluding to the inbounds debacle. "We had chances to put the game away in regulation and overtime. We have to get over this and stay tough."
Next for Terps
Opponent:Notre Dame in BB&T; Classic
Site:MCI Center, Washington
When:Saturday, 3:30 p.m.
TV/Radio:Ch. 54/WBAL (1090 AM)
ACC/Big Ten Challenge Monday's result Florida State 80, Iowa 67 Yesterday's results Indiana 80, Maryland 74, OT
Duke 91, Ohio State 76
Clemson 79, Penn State 70
Illinois 92, North Carolina 65 Today's games Georgia Tech at Minnesota, 7 p.m.
Northwestern at N.C. State, 7:30 p.m.
Virginia at Michigan State, 9 p.m.
Wake Forest at Wisconsin, 9:30 p.m.