The No.1 Indiana Hoosiers avoided an upset after defeating the No. 9 Temple Owls 55-52 in the third round of the 2013 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament on Sunday afternoon. The Hoosiers had a tough matchup controlling Khalif Wyatt, but they made big plays in pivotal situations to avoid the upset and advance to the Sweet 16.
The first notice the tides were turning in the Hooisers favor late in this close ball game came when Christian Watford got a beautiful block on an wide open Anthony Lee as the scoreboard read 52-50 with 2:13 remaining in the game and Temple leading. The Hoosiers went on to score the last 10 points of the game relied on free throws and their hero, in some sorts, became Victor Oladipo.
With 1:19 remaining in the second half, Oladipo gave the Hoosiers their first lead after Wyatt committed a foul at half court after missing a three. Following the made free throw, Oladipo gave the Hoosiers breathing room knocking down a wide open three from the top of the key. This game Indiana a four-point lead with just 15 seconds remaining as the Hoosiers milked the clock.
Temple couldn't make a shot, let alone find the rim in this one and they couldn't force the Hoosiers hands on offense. By this point, Indiana was force Wyatt's hand. They were double teaming and even triple teaming the Owls' guard who was singlehandedly tearing the Hoosiers apart. Had Temple advanced, Wyatt would have stolen all the Monday headlines following his incredible effort to get his team into the Sweet 16. Wyatt finished the game with 31 points, more than half of Temples' total and went 12-24 from the floor dispite hitting just 3-12 from three. He was everything and the only weapon Temple had in this one.
Temples' Lee, who was blocked by Watford, helped out with 10 points, but the next high scorer for Temple was Rahlir Holis-Jeffereson who scored eight points and then Scootie Randall who added three. Only four temple players made buckets in this game.
As for the Hoosiers, Oladipo finished with a team high 16 points after going 7-12 from the floor and grabbing eight rebounds. Cody Zeller went 4-10 and chipped in 15 points with six rebounds and three assists.
Next up for Indiana, they will face No. 4 Syracuse in the Sweet 16.
