MEMPHIS, Tenn. -- Kelyn Block's reward for leading Indiana State to another of this year's first-round upsets in the NCAA Tournament was an emergency trip to the dentist.
The sophomore had three teeth either knocked out or chipped late in
regulation, then found a way to help the 13th-seeded Sycamores beat No. 4
Oklahoma 70-68 in overtime Friday in the South Regional.
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| Oklahoma and Kelley Newton (22) found themselves in precarious positions all game long against Indiana State.(AP) | |
Block scored five of his 17 points in overtime after he dramatically
returned from the locker room just before the tipoff of the extra period.
"He's on his way to the oral surgeon," coach Royce Waltman said. "I had
said yesterday about how tough I thought Oklahoma was. We said our only
opportunity to win was to display some toughness of our own and we did that
today."
The Sycamores (22-11) became the latest double-digit seed to advance in this
year's tournament. They will face 12th-seeded Gonzaga on Sunday in the second
round. The Bulldogs beat fifth-seeded Virginia 86-85 in the first round.
Matt Renn had 22 points to lead Indiana State, which overcame a second-half
deficit that at one point matched its seeding. Renn scored 16 points over the
final 14½ minutes of regulation as the Sycamores rallied from a 47-34 deficit.
"In the first half I thought I got some good looks and didn't hit them,"
said Renn, 2-for-9 from the field in the first half and 5-for-16 overall, while
going 12-for-17 from the free-throw line. "In the second half we spread out
and I took advantage of it."
Renn scored with 2:52 left to give Indiana State a 57-56 lead, its first
since 16-15, then added two free throws with 2:18 left to make it 59-56.
Oklahoma (26-7) got within 59-57 on a free throw by Nolan Johnson with 1:23
to play, then came the play that altered Block's dental status.
Hollis Price of Oklahoma drove the lane and was fouled by Block. As the two
went to the ground, Price struck him in the face with an inadvertent elbow.
While Block was being attended to for the teeth problem, so was Price, whose
right elbow was cut on the play.
"Hollis had his triceps tendon torn," Oklahoma coach Kelvin Sampson said.
"You could see three teeth on the floor. He was really gouged right down to
the triceps muscle. I didn't think there was any way he could have even stayed
on the floor."
Price, an 81-percent free-throw shooter, was replaced at the line by Tim
Heskett, who shoots 85 percent. Heskett missed both foul shots, but grabbed the
rebound.
Johnson tied the score with 34 seconds to play on a drive. Djibril Kante
made two free throws with 28 seconds left, giving the Sycamores a two-point
lead, but Price, who returned with his elbow heavily taped, scored on a drive
with 19 seconds left in regulation.
Block, cheered by the Indiana State fans as he ran in from the locker room,
gave the Sycamores a quick lead in the overtime with a steal and layup. Marcus
Howard gave them the lead for good at 65-63 on a drive with 3:19 left and
Block's drive with 1:44 left made it 68-65.
"That was a huge lift," Indiana State point guard Michael Menser said of
Block's return. "The first play he got the steal and the layup. You could see
with his teeth out he was in a lot of pain. He's a tough kid."
Johnson, an 83 percent free-throw shooter, made one of two with 5.5 seconds
left, bringing the Sooners within 69-68. Block made one free throw with four
seconds left and Oklahoma's final chance ended when Johnson's driving jumper
from the left side went off the rim at the buzzer.
"I had a real good look," Johnson said. "I thought it was one of my good
shots I normally take. It didn't fall for me."
Kelley Newton matched his career-high with 26 points for Oklahoma, while
Johnson had 15 and Price 11.
"When you get here you better play well," Sampson said. "Indiana State
did. We didn't."
Indiana State has won both its NCAA Tournament meetings with Oklahoma, the
first in 1979, when the Sycamores advanced to the title game behind Larry Bird.
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