A little help

Jeffries finds assistance inside from Newton, Leach

Jared Jeffries and Jeff Newton have taken Indiana back to the national title game. AP

ATLANTA (AP) -- Indiana can win on the inside, too.

Jared Jeffries played strong and versatile, as usual, blocking shots, hitting a 3-pointer and even running the fast break in the Hoosiers' 73-64 victory over Oklahoma in the NCAA semifinals.

The 6-foot-10 forward got some unexpected inside help Saturday night from Jeff Newton and George Leach, two players hardly mentioned during the Hoosiers' run to their first title game since 1987.

One week after Indiana hit 15-of-19 3-pointers to beat Kent State, the Hoosiers' big men combined for 41 points and 17 rebounds against Oklahoma to help Indiana advance the championship game Monday night against Maryland. The Terrapins beat Kansas 97-88.

"We pounded it inside in the second half, then got it outside and hit the shots," said Jarrad Odle, who added 11 points. "Then we got it outside and hit the shots."

Video Click the image to launch the clip The Hoosiers say Jeff Newton couldn't have picked a better night to have a career game.Start Indiana head coach Mike Davis says Jeff Newton energizes his team. Jared Jeffries and Dane Fife praise Jeff Newton. Kelvin Sampson has mixed feelings about Oklahoma's defeat to Indiana. Video Plus Visit Video Plus for all the latest video and audio.

Jeffries, who has been the key to the Hoosiers' offense, finished with eight points and eight rebounds. He spent the final 11 minutes of the first half on the bench with two fouls, and drew his third early in the second half.

Jeffries' foul problems the door Newton and Leach.

Newton, playing in his hometown of Atlanta for the first time since high school, came up big when the Hoosiers needed him most -- with Jeffries on the bench and point guard Tom Coverdale playing on a bum ankle.

Newton's performance was worthy of Indiana's storied tradition. The reserve scored 19 points on 7-of-10 shooting, grabbed six rebounds and was a defensive force, too.

"Our four big guys played well and you need four big guys to play well and be a good team," coach Mike Davis said.

Newton played spectacularly, doing everything the Hoossiers asked. He replaced Jeffries with 11:12 in the first half and immediately began contributing.

He was active on the baseline. He grabbed rebounds. He drew fouls.

While the numbers may not have stood out on their own, it was the significance of his play that did.

"I've seen Newton do that a lot," guard Kyle Hornsby said. "It's nothing new to us. We know he's capable of doing that."

Newton wasn't the only new contributor for the Hoosiers, who have relied on 3-point shooting and the inside presence of Jeffries throughout the tournament.

When Newton drew his second foul with 6:30 to go in the first half, Leach replaced him. Leach, who logged just 4 minutes in the Hoosiers' first four tournament games and attempted only one shot, gave the Hoosiers the kind of minutes they needed.

He played well defensively, blocking two shots, grabbing two rebounds and even scored three points.

Together, they gave Indiana an inside game -- with Jeffries on the bench.

"I thought George Leach played great," Davis said. "He blocked two shots and on the next possession, I think they had a walking violation called. He certainly had a presence in the game."

The timing was key, too.

Newton's back-to-back three-point plays in the first half ignited a 14-7 run that got the Hoosiers back into the game.

He made consecutive baskets midway through the second half, each of which gave Indiana the lead after Oklahoma had tied the score. He beat the shot clock with a long jumper, then followed that with a layup to give Indiana a 57-50 lead.

But his biggest play didn't come on a basket, a fast break or a rebound.

It came with 4:40 remaining when Newton drove into the middle and drew the fifth foul on Aaron McGhee, the Sooners' only consistent offensive threat.

And when the Hoosiers needed to close out the Sooners, Newton and Jeffries were there, too, finishing them off by grabbing rebound after rebound.

Davis couldn't have drawn it up any better.

"That's the best game I've seen Jeff play," Davis said. "He's been playing grate for the last month and a half, but he was really big for us tonight."

 

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