Famous for their bruising defense and stubborn interior play, the Hoosiers hung out at the 3-point line Thursday night and took down the Gonzaga Bulldogs from long range, 70-57.

His extra punch on offense, and the Steelers' bruising defense, buoyed by a league-leading 15 interceptions, have put Pittsburgh in the playoff hunt for good.

DEFENSE - Whatever edge the 49ers have offensively, the Bears can match with its bruising defense.

It seems to happen almost every season: the Ravens reach the postseason because of their bruising defense and a competent, if unspectacular, offense.

Mr. Hatch, who became a national figure with a bruising defense of Clarence Thomas's nomination to the Supreme Court, has been a point man for lambasting Democrats on ethics issues.

The Jets have a potentially ideal situation that rests on Carter giving his team a lethal quarterback combination to go with a crushing ground game and a bruising defense coming into its own.

Like big brother or big sister who keeps the bully at bay, the Giants' bruising defense swatted Washington back whenever it got a bit too close and the Giants escaped with a pleasant season-opening victory.

As it is, the Knicks are tough enough to beat when they combine their bruising defense with their standard 45-percent shooting.

The most persistent comments about the game centered on how long it would take the Oilers' bruising defense to get to Joe Montana, Kansas City's veteran quarterback, and possibly knock him out of the game.

However, despite a periodically shaky offensive performance before the 142d consecutive sellout at Notre Dame Stadium, a bruising Irish defense overwhelmed Kansas.