Atlanta ? Tom Coverdale’s gimpy ankle didn’t keep him from starting against Oklahoma. Thanks to a teammate, who picked up the slack, he didn’t have to finish.
Coverdale, Indiana’s senior point guard, limped through 29 minutes and scored just three points, his lowest point total since going scoreless Dec. 28 against Eastern Washington.
Freshman Donald Perry scored a career-high 10 points and made two decisive plays in the second half Saturday night as Indiana beat Oklahoma 73-64 to advance to the NCAA title game.
The Hoosiers, who advanced to their first national championship since 1987, will play Maryland, a 97-88 winner over Kansas.
Perry hit a three-pointer with 9:49 left to give Indiana a 51-48 lead, then drove coast-to-coast for a layup in the final 2 minutes to increase the lead to four points.
A 60-percent shooter from the free-throw line entering the game, Perry was 5-for-6 from the line down the stretch.
At the end of the game, he corralled the final rebound and dribbled out the clock in front of the Indiana bench.
“I was in control,” Perry said. “Before the game, I prayed to God to give me strength and not be nervous.
“It does not matter if there are 5,000 people or 50,000 people out there. It’s still basketball.”
Indiana coach Mike Davis took out Coverdale with 3 minutes left after Oklahoma tied the game at 60. Coverdale had two turnovers in a span of 18 seconds, and briefly tussled with Hollis Price.
Coverdale was charged with a foul in the exchange, which included a little jawing with Price and the referees.
“The turnovers were crucial, but when he was talking to the officials and the other players, it wasn’t time for that,” Davis said. “It was a time for calmness.”
After the game, Coverdale visited the training room for more treatment and wasn’t available for comment. His status for Monday night’s title game against Maryland was uncertain.
“We expect Tom to be a day and a half healthier,” teammate Dane Fife said. “One of the things about Tom is he’s such a tough kid. The main problem wasn’t his ankle tonight, it was that he hadn’t run this week.”
Coverdale, the team’s second-leading scorer, was listed as questionable all week, but he worked out with the team Saturday morning.
“Our trainers gave him the OK,” Fanter said.
Coverdale sprained the ankle while driving against Kent State last Saturday. He did not return to the game, finishing with 14 points and seven assists in the Hoosiers’ 81-69 victory. He was honored as the South Regional’s most outstanding player.
Atlanta ? Tom Coverdale’s gimpy ankle didn’t keep him from starting against Oklahoma. Thanks to a teammate, who picked up the slack, he didn’t have to finish.
Coverdale, Indiana’s senior point guard, limped through 29 minutes and scored just three points, his lowest point total since going scoreless Dec. 28 against Eastern Washington.
Freshman Donald Perry scored a career-high 10 points and made two decisive plays in the second half Saturday night as Indiana beat Oklahoma 73-64 to advance to the NCAA title game.
The Hoosiers, who advanced to their first national championship since 1987, will play Maryland, a 97-88 winner over Kansas.
Perry hit a three-pointer with 9:49 left to give Indiana a 51-48 lead, then drove coast-to-coast for a layup in the final 2 minutes to increase the lead to four points.
A 60-percent shooter from the free-throw line entering the game, Perry was 5-for-6 from the line down the stretch.
At the end of the game, he corralled the final rebound and dribbled out the clock in front of the Indiana bench.
“I was in control,” Perry said. “Before the game, I prayed to God to give me strength and not be nervous.
“It does not matter if there are 5,000 people or 50,000 people out there. It’s still basketball.”
Indiana coach Mike Davis took out Coverdale with 3 minutes left after Oklahoma tied the game at 60. Coverdale had two turnovers in a span of 18 seconds, and briefly tussled with Hollis Price.
Coverdale was charged with a foul in the exchange, which included a little jawing with Price and the referees.
“The turnovers were crucial, but when he was talking to the officials and the other players, it wasn’t time for that,” Davis said. “It was a time for calmness.”
After the game, Coverdale visited the training room for more treatment and wasn’t available for comment. His status for Monday night’s title game against Maryland was uncertain.
“We expect Tom to be a day and a half healthier,” teammate Dane Fife said. “One of the things about Tom is he’s such a tough kid. The main problem wasn’t his ankle tonight, it was that he hadn’t run this week.”
Coverdale, the team’s second-leading scorer, was listed as questionable all week, but he worked out with the team Saturday morning.
“Our trainers gave him the OK,” Fanter said.
Coverdale sprained the ankle while driving against Kent State last Saturday. He did not return to the game, finishing with 14 points and seven assists in the Hoosiers’ 81-69 victory. He was honored as the South Regional’s most outstanding player.
Atlanta ? Tom Coverdale’s gimpy ankle didn’t keep him from starting against Oklahoma. Thanks to a teammate, who picked up the slack, he didn’t have to finish.
Coverdale, Indiana’s senior point guard, limped through 29 minutes and scored just three points, his lowest point total since going scoreless Dec. 28 against Eastern Washington.
Freshman Donald Perry scored a career-high 10 points and made two decisive plays in the second half Saturday night as Indiana beat Oklahoma 73-64 to advance to the NCAA title game.
The Hoosiers, who advanced to their first national championship since 1987, will play Maryland, a 97-88 winner over Kansas.
Perry hit a three-pointer with 9:49 left to give Indiana a 51-48 lead, then drove coast-to-coast for a layup in the final 2 minutes to increase the lead to four points.
A 60-percent shooter from the free-throw line entering the game, Perry was 5-for-6 from the line down the stretch.
At the end of the game, he corralled the final rebound and dribbled out the clock in front of the Indiana bench.
“I was in control,” Perry said. “Before the game, I prayed to God to give me strength and not be nervous.
“It does not matter if there are 5,000 people or 50,000 people out there. It’s still basketball.”
Indiana coach Mike Davis took out Coverdale with 3 minutes left after Oklahoma tied the game at 60. Coverdale had two turnovers in a span of 18 seconds, and briefly tussled with Hollis Price.
Coverdale was charged with a foul in the exchange, which included a little jawing with Price and the referees.
“The turnovers were crucial, but when he was talking to the officials and the other players, it wasn’t time for that,” Davis said. “It was a time for calmness.”
After the game, Coverdale visited the training room for more treatment and wasn’t available for comment. His status for Monday night’s title game against Maryland was uncertain.
“We expect Tom to be a day and a half healthier,” teammate Dane Fife said. “One of the things about Tom is he’s such a tough kid. The main problem wasn’t his ankle tonight, it was that he hadn’t run this week.”
Coverdale, the team’s second-leading scorer, was listed as questionable all week, but he worked out with the team Saturday morning.
“Our trainers gave him the OK,” Fanter said.
Coverdale sprained the ankle while driving against Kent State last Saturday. He did not return to the game, finishing with 14 points and seven assists in the Hoosiers’ 81-69 victory. He was honored as the South Regional’s most outstanding player.
Atlanta ? Tom Coverdale’s gimpy ankle didn’t keep him from starting against Oklahoma. Thanks to a teammate, who picked up the slack, he didn’t have to finish.
Coverdale, Indiana’s senior point guard, limped through 29 minutes and scored just three points, his lowest point total since going scoreless Dec. 28 against Eastern Washington.
Freshman Donald Perry scored a career-high 10 points and made two decisive plays in the second half Saturday night as Indiana beat Oklahoma 73-64 to advance to the NCAA title game.
The Hoosiers, who advanced to their first national championship since 1987, will play Maryland, a 97-88 winner over Kansas.
Perry hit a three-pointer with 9:49 left to give Indiana a 51-48 lead, then drove coast-to-coast for a layup in the final 2 minutes to increase the lead to four points.
A 60-percent shooter from the free-throw line entering the game, Perry was 5-for-6 from the line down the stretch.
At the end of the game, he corralled the final rebound and dribbled out the clock in front of the Indiana bench.
“I was in control,” Perry said. “Before the game, I prayed to God to give me strength and not be nervous.
“It does not matter if there are 5,000 people or 50,000 people out there. It’s still basketball.”
Indiana coach Mike Davis took out Coverdale with 3 minutes left after Oklahoma tied the game at 60. Coverdale had two turnovers in a span of 18 seconds, and briefly tussled with Hollis Price.
Coverdale was charged with a foul in the exchange, which included a little jawing with Price and the referees.
“The turnovers were crucial, but when he was talking to the officials and the other players, it wasn’t time for that,” Davis said. “It was a time for calmness.”
After the game, Coverdale visited the training room for more treatment and wasn’t available for comment. His status for Monday night’s title game against Maryland was uncertain.
“We expect Tom to be a day and a half healthier,” teammate Dane Fife said. “One of the things about Tom is he’s such a tough kid. The main problem wasn’t his ankle tonight, it was that he hadn’t run this week.”
Coverdale, the team’s second-leading scorer, was listed as questionable all week, but he worked out with the team Saturday morning.
“Our trainers gave him the OK,” Fanter said.
Coverdale sprained the ankle while driving against Kent State last Saturday. He did not return to the game, finishing with 14 points and seven assists in the Hoosiers’ 81-69 victory. He was honored as the South Regional’s most outstanding player.
