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Critics have it all wrong: Harris can defend Hoyas' Green
Sunday, April 01, 2007
ATLANTA — Ivan Harris has more than just a pretty jump shot.
Pointed to as a powerless power forward by some media outlets, the senior from Springfield more than held his own Saturday night at the Georgia Dome.
Extras
Harris scored nine points, had seven rebounds (five on offense), an assist, a steal and zero fouls in 15 minutes. He also did his part against Big East player of the year Jeff Green, who had nine points and 12 rebounds.
"I read everything and I took it personal," said Harris, who also drew Green's third foul. "I knew I had to go out there and play hard. They said I couldn't guard Green, stuff like that. But I stepped up and played my game."
So did Othello Hunter, Matt Terwilliger and David Lighty, who all helped limit Green to his first single-digit scoring night since a loss Feb. 26 at Syracuse. Green's five shot attempts were his fewest in the Hoyas' last 23 games.
Those guys also helped on 7-foot-2 center Roy Hibbert after Greg Oden got his second foul three minutes into the game and later when Oden got a fourth foul.
"It was good to know that we had help," said Terwilliger, a Troy graduate who had three rebounds, two points, a steal and a block in 10 minutes. "If I would have had to go that whole first half, I don't how effective I would have been the last eight or 10 minutes. It shows how deep we are, all of us can go in and help out."
Green said: "I didn't want to force anything, so I just took what they gave me."
That wasn't much. Hunter had four rebounds and a hoop while Lighty (five points, three rebounds a steal) had success fronting Green.
Oden played 20 minutes, but OSU had more points in the paint (34 to 32) and won the rebounding battle 37-30.
"Greg's been in foul trouble and we still come out with victories," Lighty said. "There's got to be something on the team — the team goes out there and gets the win."
