DATE=MARCH 31, 2002

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

NUMBER=2-288173

TITLE=FINAL FOUR BASKETBALL (S)

BYLINE=PARKE BREWER

DATELINE=ATLANTA

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: The two teams that will battle for the U-S men's national collegiate basketball title are set. VOA Sports Editor Parke Brewer is in Atlanta, where Indiana and Maryland won their semifinal games Saturday night.

TEXT: The surprising Indiana Hoosiers, who were not even ranked in the top 25 coming into this 65-team single elimination tournament, will now be playing for the championship. After earlier knocking off top-seed and defending champion Duke, Indiana upset Oklahoma here in the semifinals, 73-64.

Oklahoma held a four-point halftime lead, but Indiana players -- as in their previous game -- were deadly from three-point range. In the second half, they hit all six of their three-point field goals and that was the difference in the game.

Indiana coach Mike Davis:

// DAVIS ACT //

It's a team effort. These guys deserve all the credit. Sometimes I just sit over there (on the bench) and I don't say a word, and they go out there and play their butts off. And they fight (play hard) and go for loose balls. So I'm happy. We're playing for a national championship.

// END ACT //

Indiana will face the University of Maryland in the title game here Monday night. Maryland defeated Kansas in the other semifinal, 97-88. Late in the second half Maryland saw a 20-point lead dwindle to four with 20 seconds to play, but came through with a 97-88 win. (signed)

NEB/SPTS/PARKE/KBK