Indiana Goes Around LSU, O’Neal, 89-79

Calbert Cheaney scored 30 points as fifth-ranked Indiana overcame a 36-point performance by Shaquille O’Neal to beat Louisiana State, 89-79, Saturday in the second round of the NCAA West Regional.

O’Neal scored 27 points in the second half but Indiana Coach Bob Knight ran his record to 3-0 against LSU’s Dale Brown.

The Hoosiers (25-6) advanced to the regional semifinals for the 12th time in Knight’s 21 years at Indiana. They’ll meet Florida State Thursday in Albuquerque.

O’Neal, a 50% free-throw shooter this season, made 12 free throws without a miss and had four three-point plays. The 7-foot-1 junior had 12 rebounds and five blocked shots.

Alan Henderson scored 19 and Matt Nover added 13 for Indiana. Vernel Singleton had 14 points for the Tigers (21-10).

Indiana took the lead for good, 35-33, with five minutes left in the first half and had a 45-38 advantage at halftime.

O’Neal scored his team’s first nine points of the second half but the Tigers never got closer than two points. Indiana rebuilt the lead to 69-59 lead on Henderson’s three-point play with 8:07 left.

O’Neal’s two free throws with 4:04 remaining cut Indiana’s lead to 73-70. Damon Bailey sank a three-pointer for the Hoosiers to boost the lead to six and, after O’Neal scored inside, Cheaney’s three-point play made it 79-72 with 2:42 left.

Indiana sank 10 of 11 free throws over the final 2:03 to clinch the victory.