So. Indiana Rallies For Title In Division Ii

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

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

“This game was like our season,” said SI coach Bruce Pearl. “We stayed together and never quit.”

SI’s Brian Huebner tied the score at 62 on a 3-pointer 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 5-footer to give SI a 64-63 advantage. Chad Gilbert connected on a 3-pointer from the right corner to give SI a 67-63 lead with 43 seconds left.