UC Riverside Blows Big Lead, Crown : Men’s Division II: After trailing, 28-6, Southern Indiana takes lead for first time with 1:29 left and wins title, 71-63.

Cortez Barnes scored the go-ahead basket with 1:29 to play as Southern Indiana rallied from a 22-point deficit to defeat UC Riverside, 71-63, for the NCAA Division II championship Saturday.

Southern Indiana (29-5) overcame 36% (24 for 67) shooting with superior depth that wore down Riverside (26-6) in the final 10 minutes.

“This game was like our season,” Screaming Eagle Coach Bruce Pearl said. “We stayed together and never quit.”

Brian Huebner tied the score at 62 on a three-point shot from the corner with 2:19 to go. Riverside led for the last time 21 seconds later when James King made one of two free throws.

Barnes got the ball on the right baseline and banked in a five-footer to give Southern Indiana (29-5) a 64-63 advantage. After Riverside’s Craig Marshall misfired on a three-point shot, Chad Gilbert connected on one from the right corner to give Southern Indiana a 67-63 lead with 43 seconds left.

Southern Indiana held a 21-2 edge in scoring by reserves.

“They sent in players in waves,” said Riverside Coach John Masi, whose team was making its first appearance in the championship game. “Our legs weren’t there in the second half and theirs were. The lack of depth in three games in four days took its toll.”

Huebner scored 18 points while Stan Gouard and Barnes each had 14 for Southern Indiana. William Wilson led Riverside with 19 points and 13 rebounds.

Southern Indiana, runner-up in last year’s tournament, fell behind, 28-6, after Riverside’s James King scored on a layup with 9:53 remaining in the half.

The Screaming Eagles hit only six of 32 shots as the Highlanders took a 39-21 lead at halftime.