Indiana had plenty of close calls along the way to their 1987 national title. But never did things look more dire than in the Hoosiers’ Elite Eight matchup with LSU.
Fortunately for IU, a sophomore forward had himself a weekend in his hometown.
After Ricky Calloway led Indiana with 21 points in a Sweet Sixteen win over Duke, the Cincinnati product was in the right spot in the closing seconds of the regional final two days later at the Riverfront Coliseum.
It didn’t look like Calloway would ever have a chance for his game-winning shot.
After a Calloway missed dunk, LSU was up by nine points with 4:38 to play, and the Tigers spread out their offense in an effort to run out the clock.
But with a 45 second shot clock not allowing them to hold the ball for the remainder of the game, LSU went on to turn it over on four of their final seven possessions and get off only one field-goal attempt in the last 4:18.
A Joe Hillman three-point play gave the Hoosiers hope, cutting the Tiger lead to 75-71.
Indiana pulled to within one point at 76-75, and the Hoosiers had the ball with a chance to take the lead.
Keith Smart found Daryl Thomas for a good look in the paint, but the senior forward shot an air ball from 10 foot out with under ten seconds remaining.
Calloway was there for the put back and the lead as LSU called a timeout with six seconds remaining.
A six-foot turnaround by Nikita Wilson hit the front of the rim at the buzzer.
Indiana’s bench only played seven minutes as Indiana head coach Bob Knight allowed his starting five to play almost the entire game. All five starters scored in double figures.
Steve Alford led the Hoosiers with 20 points. Dean Garrett added 17 and Thomas had 16.
The game was memorable for more than just the IU comeback win.
Knight got a technical foul in the game’s first nine minutes, and that was only the beginning.
Part of a several minute long episode, Knight carried his anger to the scorer’s table and NCAA official Gene Corrigan, and he slammed his hand on a phone near Corrigan and kicked a chair on Indiana’s bench.
Video credit – NCAA
See also:
- March 14: Indiana vs. Auburn (1987)
- March 14: Indiana vs. Maryland (1981)
- March 17: Four memorable games
- March 18: Indiana vs. Kansas (1953)
- March 19: Indiana vs. Kentucky (2016)
- March 20: Indiana vs. Duke (1987)
- March 21: Indiana vs. Duke (2002)
- March 21: Indiana vs. Purdue (1979)
- March 21: Indiana vs. LSU (1992)
- March 22: Indiana vs. North Carolina (1984)
- March 22: Indiana vs. LSU (1987)
- March 23: Indiana vs. Kent State (2002)
- March 24: Indiana vs. Temple (2013)
- March 25: Indiana vs. Louisville (1993)
- March 26: Indiana vs. Florida State (1992)
- March 27: Indiana vs. UCLA (1976)
- March 28: Indiana vs. UNLV (1987)
- March 28: Indiana vs. LSU (1981)
- March 28: Indiana vs. UCLA (1992)
- March 29: Indiana vs. Michigan (1976)
- March 30: Indiana vs. Kansas (1940)
- March 30: Indiana vs. North Carolina (1981)
- March 30: Indiana vs. Syracuse (1987)
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