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MEMPHIS, Tennessee (Ticker) -- Move over Gonzaga. There is another darling team in the South Region. Indiana State, the 13th seed, recorded its first NCAA Tournament victory in 22 years as Kelyn Block scored five of his 17 points in overtime to surprise fourth-seeded Oklahoma, 70-68, at The Pyramid. Matt Renn had 22 points for the Sycamores (21-11), who overcame a 13-point second-half deficit to win in the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 1979, when Larry Bird led them to the title game before losing to Magic Johnson and Michigan State. "I told our players after the game that seldom do players say they want to do something and then go do it," Indiana State coach Royce Waltman said. Next up for the Sycamores is 12th-seeded Gonzaga, which stunned Virginia earlier on Friday and seeks its third straight trip to the "Sweet 16" on Sunday. Block played courageously in overtime after having several teeth dislodged near the end of regulation in a collision with Hollis Price of Oklahoma. "It was a huge lift (getting Block back)," Renn said. "I don't know if we could have done it without him. He is in a lot of pain. He's a tough kid." Oklahoma tied the game with seven seconds left in regulation on a layup by Price that made it 61-61. The Sycamores wasted a chance at victory, never getting off a shot in the final seconds. But Indiana State never trailed in the extra session, jumping in front, 63-61, on a driving layup by Block. Indiana State twice led by three in the extra session, first at 66-63 on two free throws by Renn and again at 68-65 on a layup by Block. With 33 seconds left, Oklahoma's Kelly Newton cut the lead to one with a long jumper that was ruled just a two-point shot. Renn made the first of two free throws to give Indiana State a 69-67 lead, but Nolan Johnson had a chance to tie after drawing a foul with 5.5 seconds left. A nervous Johnson was way short on the first shot before making the second. Block made one of two free throws with four seconds left, giving the Sooners one last chance. Johnson drove along the baseline and missed a running jumper at the buzzer, sending the Sooners (27-6) home early once again. "I would like to congratulate Indiana State," Oklahoma coach Kelvin Sampson said. "They did a lot of good things. I would like to congratulate our team as well. They played hard today." The Sooners have lost in the opening round of the tournament five times in seven seasons under coach Kelvin Sampson. The last time Oklahoma played at Memphis in the NCAA Tournament was in 1995, when it was ousted by Manhattan in the first round. "I'm going to be a bit diplomatic and say this is a mild upset," Waltman said. Newton had 26 points and Johnson added 15 for the Sooners. Aaron McGhee had nine points and 12 rebounds. Oklahoma led 47-34 with 14:56 left before the Sycamores responded. Indiana took its first lead since midway through the first half when Renn scored on a layup to make it 52-51 with 6:21 left. Indiana State went to foul line 30 times and made 21, with Renn connecting on 12-of-17. The Sooners went to the line just 13 times, making eight. |
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