NCAA at 75 - College Basketball
22. Isiah Thomas, Indiana
Indiana and North Carolina didn't even know if they'd play the 1981 national championship game after U.S. President Ronald Reagan was shot in an assassination attempt only a few hours before the scheduled tipoff. After the NCAA announced the game would go on, Thomas had a forgettable performance in the first half. IU never led in the half until Randy Wittman's jumper at the buzzer gave them a 27-26 lead. But then Thomas, a sophomore from Chicago, took over in the second half, scoring 19 points after halftime to lead Indiana to a 63-50 over the Tar Heels in Philadelphia. Thomas finished with 23 points and five assists, helping IU coach Bob Knight win his second title in six years. -- Mark Schlabach
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