Game Tips in Indiana’s Favor

Sometimes, a good play goes bad.

Sometimes, hustle turns into hurt.

San Diego State was leading sixth-seeded Indiana by one point in the final seconds as it tried to win an NCAA tournament game for the first time in school history Thursday, and everything came undone.

The Aztecs’ Marcus Slaughter tipped a pass on the perimeter, only to see Indiana’s Robert Vaden leap to grab it and sink a three-pointer with 3.3 seconds left to help boost the Hoosiers to an 87-83 victory in an NCAA tournament first-round game of the Oakland Regional in the Huntsman Center.

“The ball came to me, it was high and I tried to tip it toward our end of the court,” Slaughter said. “Good teams get good rolls. They got the roll. I tipped it and unfortunately it went right back to him and he made a great shot.”

Trailing by two after Vaden’s shot, 11th-seeded San Diego State tried a last-ditch play, but Mohamed Abukar’s length-of-the-court pass sailed out of bounds on the other end, giving Indiana the ball under its own basket.

The Hoosiers’ Roderick Wilmont, fouled with 2.7 seconds left, made both free throws for the final margin.

“It hurts,” San Diego State guard Brandon Heath said.

Coach Steve Fisher knew it.

“These are hard, hard losses,” he said. “To end the season the way we did is extremely difficult.”

By losing, San Diego State (24-9) extended its streak of NCAA futility.

The Aztecs have never won an NCAA tournament game in five attempts.

Indiana has won as many NCAA championships -- five -- as the Aztecs have played tournament games.

By winning in the final seconds, Indiana (19-11) extended Coach Mike Davis’ career for another game. Davis, under pressure for some time, resigned last month but will finish the season.

“It didn’t really cross my mind about it being my last game,” he said. “It just crossed my mind making sure our guys fought to the end and didn’t panic.”

San Diego State, which shot 56% and made 10 of 18 three-pointers, led by as many as 10 points in the second half, but Indiana came back.

Leading by one in the final minute, San Diego State turned the ball over after Indiana knocked the ball away from Heath near half court. Heath dashed into the backcourt for it, but at first thought it would be a backcourt violation if he touched it, and after a tie-up the ball went to Indiana on the possession arrow.

Abukar led San Diego State with 24 points and nine rebounds. Vaden, Marco Killingsworth and Earl Calloway had 18 points for Indiana.