There was a lot of exciting college basketball played last night, and the big momentum the Indiana women picked up with last weekend’s two wins in Assembly Hall unfortunately ran out as the Hoosiers got to Albany, New York, to play as a 4 seed against unbeaten overall Number 1 South Carolina in the NCAA tournament’s Sweet 16.
The Hoosiers were right with the Lady Gamecocks all the way, it was a heck of a game, and Indiana kept cutting a massive 22-point South Carolina lead down throughout the second half, down to 74-72 in the closing seconds, on a layup by center Mackenzie Holmes. But there in the last minute of the game, Carolina’s sharp-shooting Raven Johnson hit a 3-pointer that ended up icing the contest, the final 79-75 Gamecocks.
The Hoosiers almost pulled off the biggest comeback in NCAA women’s tournament history, but it wasn’t to be, though Sydney Parrish led them with 21 points. Indiana closes a great season with a terrific 26 & 6 record. South Carolina next has to take on 3rd-seed Oregon State, who upset Number 2 Notre Dame, 70-65.
The men’s NCAA continues with the overall Number 1 seeded Purdue Boilermakers continuing to advance. Friday, the Boilers had little trouble knocking out Gonzaga by 12 points, 80-68. Next in the Elite 8, Purdue will take on the Tennessee Volunteers, who eliminated Creighton’s Blue Jays last night, 82-75.
Again remember the “other” men’s tournament, the NIT, where Indiana State is the Number 1 seed. After knocking out UC’s Bearcats 85-81, the Sycamores will be in the NIT’s Final Four at Butler’s Hinkle Fieldhouse, facing Utah on Tuesday. The winner of that one will face either Seton Hall or Georgia for the NIT championship Thursday.
After that great opening baseball season win the Reds had Thursday, beating the Nationals 8-2, the teams got a day off Friday. They’ll hook up at Great American Ballpark again today, and the broadcast will come your way this afternoon at 3:40, only on the Sports Voice, 103.9 WRBI.
Back home at Gainbridge last night after their road trip, the Pacers burned the Lakers by 19, 109-90. Next, the Brooklyn Nets visit the Fieldhouse Monday, and the Pacers return the favor Wednesday.