SWEET AND SZCZERBIAK

The disciplined, well-coached team beat the team dependent on one player.

If the storyline that unfolded came as no surprise, the result did: No. 10-seeded Miami of Ohio beat No. 2-seeded Utah, 66-58, in a Midwest Regional second-round game.

It was supposed to be the other way around after Miami of Ohio’s Wally Szczerbiak scored 43 of his team’s 59 points to beat Washington in the first round. Utah’s Rick Majerus would concoct a defense to keep him in check, and the Utes would roll on to the round of 16.

Utah did throw a variety of things at Szczerbiak, starting with a defense in which the two big men stayed near the basket, point guard Andre Miller patrolled the top and Alex Jensen and Jeremy Killion guarded Szczerbiak and Damon Frierson man-to-man. But Miami of Ohio eventually figured out ways to get the ball to John Estick for 18 points, Jason Stewart for 12 and, oh yeah, Szczerbiak for 24. Szczerbiak also had seven rebounds, five assists, two blocked shots and two steals.

“They played smart on the court and knew who to get the ball to, how to execute” Miller said.

Meanwhile, Utah needed Miller to take over late in the game just to keep it close. The Utes trailed by 10 with less than five minutes remaining before Miller scored inside, stole a pass and went downcourt for a layup, drove to the basket for a left-handed layup and made three of four free throws to bring the Utes within 58-55 with 1:45 left.

But Miami of Ohio got the ball in Szczerbiak’s hands and he made all six of his free throws down the stretch. He also got a piece of Hanno Mottola’s three-point shot that fell short with a minute to play and the Utah down five.

It was part of a complete performance by Szczerbiak that was, in its own way, as impressive as his 43-point outburst. Szczerbiak didn’t force anything when the Utah defense made him its focal point. But when the good looks came or the RedHawks needed to beat the shot clock, he came through. He also made all 10 of his free throws.

Utah (28-5) had things going its way at first. Szczerbiak made only one of his first four shots. The Utes threw lob passes into their big men over the smaller Miami of Ohio defenders and scored easy baskets. Jensen made two three-point baskets and Utah went ahead 24-13. Then Stewart made three consecutive three-pointers, and the RedHawks were back in business.

“We said we’ve got to have one guy step up,” Miami of Ohio Coach Charlie Coles said. “You know how coaches are, we were bluffing and reaching. I didn’t know who it was. I didn’t know if we had that guy. “

After Stewart made those three-point shots, Coles had his answer.

“Then we just looked at each other and we said, ‘Hey, if we get up on these guys and get physical with them, they didn’t like that too much,” Szczerbiak said.

Miami of Ohio (24-7) made defensive adjustments to keep Utah from getting the easy lobs. And the Utes stopped working for the best shot, going one-on-one at times and throwing up 13 three-point shots in the second half--making only two. Jensen didn’t score in the second half and Mottola had only six points.

“They played no harder than us, but maybe a little smarter,” Majerus said.

Brains decided this game more than athletic ability. If you wanted high-flying action, well, you’d better wait for a replay of the 1983 national semifinal between Houston and Louisville.

But this was entertaining basketball in its own way. The teams shot well enough--Miami of Ohio 48%, Utah 46%. They combined for only 15 turnovers. Both teams were well coached and had a good idea of what they wanted to do.

“We’ve got seniors,” Coles said of Szczerbiak, Stewart and Frierson. “When we play a good game, it’s going to be a good-looking game.”

That’s how Miami of Ohio earned its first trip to the Sweet 16.

“It feels good,” Coles said. “But there’s always another game.”

Miami of Ohio gets to face defending champion Kentucky (27-8) in a round-of-16 game at St. Louis on Friday. But for now the RedHawks can enjoy this one.

In a tournament full of upsets, Miami of Ohio is still in, and North Carolina, Stanford, UCLA and Cincinnati are gone.

“All it means,” Coles said. “Is some of us get to keep our dream alive another week.”