Kent State Upsets Indiana, 77-73
March 15, 2001 SAN DIEGO (AP) - On the same day Bob Knight went job hunting in Texas, hisold team lost another first-round game in the NCAA tournament. Kent State played spoiler with a 77-73 upset of Indiana on Thursday, sendingthe Hoosiers to their second straight first-round loss and fifth in sevenyears. A year ago, Indiana was blown out by 20 points against Pepperdine in whatturned out to be Knight's final sideline appearance in a red sweater. Knight was at Texas Tech on Thursday to interview for the head coaching job,a position he held for 29 years in Bloomington before being fired in Septemberfor violating Indiana's zero-tolerance behavior policy. His replacement, Mike Davis, is also seeking job security. Indiana officialshave said they'll decide whether Davis stays permanently after the season. The Hoosiers (21-13) clearly want the soft-spoken Davis back, but theycouldn't make a case for him by blowing a 12-point second-half lead andcommitting 18 turnovers. Making its second tournament appearance in three years, Kent State got 24points from Trevor Huffman, including 11 of its final 15. The Golden Flashes (24-9) shot 47 percent against an Indiana defense thatheld opponents to 39.2 percent during the regular season. Kirk Haston scored 29 points for the Hoosiers, whose No. 4 seed was theirhighest since 1993. The Flashes tied the game at 62 on a tipin by Rashaun Warren. After JaredJeffries made two free throws for Indiana, Huffman scored to give Kent Stateits first lead of the second half, 64-63, with 5:37 left. Tom Coverdale fouled Warren and then, reminiscent of Knight, was called fora technical when he complained. Huffman made 1-of-2 free throws on the tech asCoverdale left the game with his fifth foul. Warren missed his first free throwto leave the Flashes ahead by two. Indiana took its last lead, 66-65, on a free throw by Haston before Huffmantook over. He scored five straight points as Kent State led 70-66 with 2:30remaining. Jeffries, the Big Ten freshman of the year, was called for traveling withIndiana down by four. Andrew Mitchell and Huffman scored consecutive baskets togive Kent State a 76-70 lead with 19 seconds left. KENT ST. (24-9) Shaw 3-6 1-2 7, Massey 7-12 0-0 15, Perry 4-7 2-2 10, Mitchell 3-12 3-3 9,Huffman 9-19 4-6 24, Haut 1-1 0-0 2, Thomas 0-2 0-0 0, Bedford 0-0 0-0 0,Warren 3-6 2-3 8, Edwards 1-1 0-2 2. Totals 31-66 12-18 77. INDIANA (23-10) Jeffries 4-10 1-2 9, Newton 2-3 3-5 7, Haston 10-21 8-10 29, Coverdale 3-70-3 8, Fife 1-1 0-0 3, Moye 4-6 4-4 12, Owens 0-0 0-0 0, Hornsby 1-4 0-0 3,Odle 1-3 0-0 2. Totals 26-55 16-24 73. Halftime score-Indiana 42, Kent St. 34. 3-Point Goals-Kent St. 3-11 (Huffman2-3, Massey 1-3, Thomas 0-2, Mitchell 0-3), Indiana 5-10 (Coverdale 2-3, Fife1-1, Hornsby 1-2, Haston 1-3, Jeffries 0-1). Fouled out-Coverdale.Rebounds-Kent St. 35 (Shaw, Warren 8), Indiana 35 (Haston 9). Assists-Kent St.13 (Mitchell 7), Indiana 13 (Coverdale, Jeffries 4). Total fouls-Kent St. 21,Indiana 19. Technicals-Coverdale. A-9,697 |
