SETTING THE STAGE
Indiana State Basketball plays its final game of the calendar year on Sunday, December 31 when they travel to Illinois State. Tip-off is set for 4:00 p.m. (ET) from Redbird Arena and will be televised live on The Valley On ESPN3. The game will also be broadcast on WIBQ 97.9 FM as well as streamed (audio) on GoSycamores.com. Indiana State is 6-7, 1-0 MVC heading into their first conference road contest and are led by Jordan Barnes who averages 17.2 points per game, which is fourth-best in the league. Illinois State rides into the game on a three-game winning streak and are 7-6, 1-0 MVC after earning a victory at Evansville in their first league matchup. Keyshawn Evans leads the 'Birds with an 18.5 ppg average.
QUICK HITS
- Indiana State is 82-10 when holding teams to 63 points or less under eighth-year head coach Greg Lansing (and 18-0 when limiting teams to 53 or less).Â
- Jordan Barnes is averaging 4.1 3-pointers per game to rank third in the nation and tops in the MVC. His 53 3-pointers made this season is fourth best nationally and only three behind the national leaders.
- Greg Lansing is just the sixth head coach in the history of the program to record at least 100 victories at the helm of the Sycamores as he owns 126. He recently passed Glenn Curtis for third on Indiana State's all-time career list and needs eight more to tie Royce Waltman for second (three more to tie him for most MVC victories in the history of the program).
- Indiana State played Ohio in a four overtime game to close out the Gildan Charleston Classic on November 19, 2017. It marked the first quadruple overtime game for the Sycamores since a 1986 contest against Butler. The Sycamores also went to overtime against North Texas on December 6.
- Senior Brenton Scott owns 235 trifectas in his career which is second-best in the history of the program. He is one of just three Sycamores to record at least 200 career 3-pointers. He only trails Michael Menser by 48 for the school record.
- Jordan Barnes reached the 20-point scoring mark in four consecutive games between Air Force and Green Bay -- the longest such streak by a Sycamore since Greg Thomas had four in a row during the 1992-93 campaign. Larry Bird holds the school record as he reached the 20-point mark 25 times in a row during the 1977-78 and 1978-79 campaign.Â
- Indiana State head coach Greg Lansing owns a school record five victories over nationally-ranked teams during his tenure, a new standard set on December 7, 2016 in the win over No. 15 Butler. Additionally, he owns six victories over Power 5 schools, with all of those coming against on a neutral site or on the road.Â
- Indiana State head coach Greg Lansing led the Sycamores for the 200th time against Missouri-St. Louis in 2016 and then it was his 100th career home game against the same opponent in 2017. He is one of just four head coaches at Indiana State to coach at least 200 games. Duane Klueh, Royce Waltman and Gordon Stauffer are the others.
A Win Over Illinois State Would ...
• Give the Sycamores their first 2-0 start to MVC play since the 2014-15 season when they rattled off five victories in a row to begin the conference slate.
• Give the Sycamores their first win in Redbird Arena since a 63-61 win on December 31, 2014 to open the 2014-15 Valley schedule.
• Be eighth-year head coach Greg Lansing's 10th victory over the Redbirds.
The Indiana State Head Coach
Indiana State head coach Greg Lansing (South Dakota, 1990) is 126-115 (.523) overall in his eighth season as a head coach. He is 66-61 all-time in MVC games, including a 46-18 mark at home and a 20-43 record on the road. During his career, he is 76-30 in all home games, 34-63 on the road, 16-22 in neutral court contests and 40-30 in games decided by five points or less. With the Trees, Lansing is 10-12 in overtime games and 82-10 when holding teams to 63 points or less. Lansing is 9-6 against Illinois State, including a 2-5 mark at Redbird Arena. Lansing led the Sycamores to the postseason in each of his first four seasons at the helm (2011 NCAA, 2012 CIT, 2013 & 2014 NIT). Lansing is the second head coach to lead the Sycamores to the NCAA Tournament in their rookie campaign in the history of the program, with the other being Bill Hodges leading ISU to a 33-1 record and a Final Four appearance in the 1979 NCAA Tournament. Lansing was just the 14th rookie head coach in the history of the MVC to lead his team to 20 victories during their debut season. Lansing holds the school record for most victories over a nationally-ranked team (five) in the history of the program. Lansing is currently third on the Indiana State all-time coaching victories list with 126 and needs eight more to tie Royce Waltman for second.
A Little History
Indiana State is in its 122nd season of college basketball at the school. The Sycamores are 1,473-1,282 all-time on the hardwood.
Television Particulars
The Illinois State game will air live worldwide on The Valley On ESPN3 as well as the WatchESPN app.
Sycamores Have Won Five Of Last MVC Openers
The Indiana State Sycamores opened Missouri Valley Conference play on December 28 at home against league newcomer Valparaiso. With Thursday night's victory, the Sycamores are 18-23 all-time in MVC openers, including 14 wins all-time in MVC openers which occur inside Hulman Center. Indiana State has won five of its last seven Missouri Valley Conference openers. This was ISU's first meeting in a Missouri Valley Conference contest against the Crusaders as they just joined the league this past summer. This is not the first time the two schools have faced off as league foes as Indiana State and Valparaiso were both members of the Indiana Collegiate Conference from 1950 through 1968.Â
Nets Blazed In Second Half Against Valparaiso
Indiana State held its largest lead in the home win over Valparaiso of 12 points just over nine minutes into the game -- but found themselves trailing by three points to the Crusaders at the halftime horn. ISU connected on 13-of-18 shots from the field (72.2 percent) in the second half, including a mark of 5-of-8 from long range (62.5 percent) to erase the deficit and win 73-64. The game was the sixth time the Sycamores have trailed at the half, but the first time they overcame the opponent's lead and won the game.
Jordan Barnes Put Together Four Consecutive 20-Point Games; Top 5 In Valley Scoring
Indiana State sophomore Jordan Barnes reached the 20-point mark over each of a four game stretch beginning with Air Force and continuing through Green Bay. It was the longest such streak by a Sycamore since Greg Thomas did it during the 1992-93 season. The school record for most games scoring 20 or more points is 25 games set by Larry Bird during the 1977-78 and 1978-79 seasons. Barnes was the ninth Sycamore in the Missouri Valley Conference era to score at least 20 points in at least four games consecutively. He scored a career-high 25 points against both Air Force and North Texas and posted 23 points against Indianapolis as well as 22 versus Green Bay. Over that four game stretch, Barnes averaged 23.8 points per game and nearly four assists. He also hit 27-of-54 shots from the field (50 percent) and was a blazing 24-of-43 (55.8 percent) from long range. Barnes connected on a career-high seven 3-pointers against Indianapolis.Â
Barnes and Scott Rank High In Conference / Nationally In Several Categories
Jordan Barnes and Brenton Scott both rank in the Top 8 in the Missouri Valley Conference statistical listings for scoring as Barnes owns a 17.2 ppg mark for fourth while Scott's 13.9 ppg is eighth. Barnes' 4.1 3-pointers per game leads the MVC -- a number which is third-best in all the nation. He also ranks 10th nationally with a 50.4 percent mark from long range and is 25th-best in the country with 105 3-point attempts on the season. Barnes' 53 3-pointers is fourth in the country and trails Fletcher Magee of Wofford and Donte Wright of South Carolina State by three treys as both lead the country with 56. Scott's 1.6 steals per game leads the MVC and is 11th in rebounding with a 5.6 average. Qiydar Davis gives the Sycamores the top two in the MVC for steals with a 1.5 per game average.
Greg Lansing All Alone In Third Place For Most Wins At Indiana State
Indiana State's 73-64 win over Valparaiso was career victory No. 126 for eighth-year head coach Greg Lansing. He is now all alone in third place all-time at ISU. He needs eight more wins to catch Royce Waltman for second at 134 and the school record is held by Duane Klueh who owns 182 career victories. Lansing also owns 66 victories in Missouri Valley Conference play which is just three off the school record of 69 held by Indiana State's second all-time winningest head coach Royce Waltman (1997-2007). Lansing has led the Sycamores to the MVC Championship Game twice in his tenure.
Brenton Scott Is 2nd All-Time In 3-Pointers & Top 10 In Scoring
Indiana State senior Brenton Scott is just the third Sycamore to ever record at least 200 career 3-pointers. He now sits at 235 for his career. Scott has joined school record holder Michael Menser (1997-2001) who owns 283 career trifectas and Jordan Printy (2008-12) who hit 215 as the only Sycamores to post at least 200 career trifectas. Scott is in eighth place on the ISU all-time scoring list with 1,492 career points. He needs 63 more points to catch Eddie Bird for seventh.
Sycamore Success Inside Hulman Center Under Greg Lansing
The Sycamores are 76-30 (.717) inside Hulman Center under eighth-year head coach Greg Lansing. Additionally, the Sycamores have won 46 of their last 64 MVC games at home. The longest stretch of current success against a league member is eight wins in a row at home against Bradley after last season's 81-71 victory over the Braves.
63 Is The Magic Number
The Sycamores win by the score of 85-63 on December 12 against Green Bay was ISU's second this season in which they held an opponent to 63 points or less and earned the victory. Under eighth-year head coach Greg Lansing, the Sycamores are 82-10 when allowing less than 63 points to the opposition (including a 18-0 mark when holding teams to 53 or less).
Good Starter On The Battery
Indiana State's starting five has outscored the opposition's top five, six times this season and earned the win. Under eighth-year head coach Greg Lansing, the Sycamores are 79-23 when the ISU starting five scores more than their opponent's starters after doing so in the win over Valparaiso on December 28.
Sycamores Win While Being Outshot For First Time Since 2016
Indianapolis held a 46.4 percent to 42.1 percent shooting advantage in last Saturday's 79-75 Sycamore victory over the visiting Greyhounds. It marked the first time since a January 13, 2016 victory for the Sycamores over Northern Iowa that ISU shot worse than opposition, but still earned the win. That is a span of 28 games in a row in which ISU held the lower shooting percentage and was saddled with a loss. UNI hit 40.8 percent of their shots while ISU hit 39.7 percent. The Sycamores were aided in that game by a career-high 30 points from Brenton Scott as he hit 6-of-10 3-pointers, as well as a 12-of-13 mark from the charity stripe. Against Indianapolis, the Sycamores scored 20 points from the free throw line compared to 15 by the Greyhounds.
Record Breaking Four Overtime Game Closes Out Gildan Charleston ClassicÂ
Indiana State went to four overtimes in their third and final game of the Gildan Charleston Classic. This was the first game to reach double overtime game for the Sycamores since an 88-85 win at home over Eastern Illinois on December 21, 2016. Additionally, it became the first Sycamore game to reach triple overtime since 2011 at Wichita State. The game against Ohio is only the second to go quadruple overtime with the other on December 27, 1986 against Butler. The Sycamores have played a total of seven overtime games in the last seasons, including two which went multiple overtime periods. In the Ohio game, the Sycamores had 79 field goals attempts which are the most for the program since they had 75 against Middle Tennessee State in 1996. Additionally, the Ohio game was the first time the Sycamores had six players reach double figures scoring since the triple overtime game at Wichita State in 2011.
Sycamores Post Dominating Victory In Season Opener At Indiana
Indiana State enjoyed a tremendous start to the season with a 90-69 victory over in-state rival Indiana inside Assembly Hall. The 90 points scored represent the most by a Sycamore team in the all-time series with the Hoosiers -- topping the previous best of 72 set in a 2005 win inside Hulman Center. ISU won that game by five points, 72-67, which until Friday night was the Sycamores largest margin of victory in the series. The Sycamores have now won four of the last six meetings in the all-time series dating back to Indiana State's last win inside Assembly Hall back in 1999. It was the Sycamores' first win in the series since 2005. The Sycamore victory broke a string of 32 wins in a row for the Hoosiers in their home opener and was ISU's first win on the road in a season opener since a 2014 overtime victory at IUPUI.
17 3-Pointers Most Ever By A Visitor To Indiana's Assembly Hall
Indiana State was solid in many areas at Indiana, beginning with 3-point shooting as they hit 17-of-26 attempts (65.4 percent) from long range. The 17 3-pointers are the most by an opponent against Indiana inside Assembly Hall and fell just one shy of the Sycamore school record of 18 set in 1988 against Arizona State.Â
Brenton Scott Named To Missouri Valley Conference Preseason First Team
Indiana State senior Brenton Scott was named Missouri Valley Conference Preseason First Team one year after taking home All-Missouri Valley Conference Third Team honors. He was the Valley's Freshman of the Year in 2015. Scott finished the regular season ranked second in the league with a 15.9 ppg average and was 16th with 5.0 rebounds per game. His 1.6 steals per game ranked in a tie for fourth while his 2.3 3-pointers per game was tied for the most in the league. Scott averaged 4.7 defensive rebounds per game to rank in a tie for seventh-best in the MVC this season. In league play, Scott's 13.3 ppg was good enough for 10th in the league while his 1.4 steals per game was fifth. He averaged 2.2 3-pointers per game to rank tied for fourth while his 4.4 defensive rebounds per game was ranked 11th. He scored 25 points and hit the final free throw with 1.5 seconds remaining to down No. 15 Butler inside Hulman Center.Â
Indiana State With A Pair Of Top 10 Career Scorers In Their Respective High School States
A pair of Indiana State freshmen in Tyreke Key and Cooper Neese enter the collegiate portion of their careers having reached the Top 10 in career scoring in both of their respective home states. Key finished his career at Clay County High School in Celina, Tenn., with 3,287 points scored which is 10th most in the history of the state of Tennessee. As a senior, he set the Tennessee High School record for most points scored in a season, breaking a 25-year old record held previously by Kentucky legend Tony Delk. Cooper Neese, who will sit out the 2017-18 season serving his year-in-residence as a transfer, enters his Indiana State career having scored 2,496 career points at nearby Cloverdale High School which is seventh-best in the Indiana High School Basketball history.
Sycamores Tally School Record Fifth Victory Over Nationally-Ranked Team Under Lansing
Indiana State ended a skid of nine losses to nationally-ranked teams when No. 15/16 Butler fell inside Hulman Center on December 7 by the score of 72-71. Coach Lansing has led the Sycamores to a school-record five victories against nationally-ranked teams during his time at the helm of the program. He passed Bill Hodges (head coach of the Dream Team in 1978-79) and Royce Waltman (head coach of the Sycamores during back-to-back NCAA Tourney trips in 2000 & 2001) for the most in program history with the win over Butler. It was just the second victory for the Sycamores under Lansing at home against a nationally-ranked team and the first overall since a win at No. 21 Notre Dame in 2013.
Greg Lansing Selected For Induction Into Iowa High School Basketball Hall Of Fame
Indiana State head coach Greg Lansing was inducted into the Iowa High School Athletic Association Basketball Hall of Fame as part of their 2016 class. Lansing and the other selected inductees were honored individually at halftime of the Iowa Class 4A State Championship Game at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines on March 12. The IHSAA Basketball Hall of Fame is the highest honor the Iowa High School Board of Control can bestow on a high school coach or former player. Lansing graduated from Harlan High School in 1986, where he was coached by his father Dave, who was inducted into the IHSAA Basketball Hall of Fame in 1999 as a coach. The Lansing father/son combination of Dave and Greg are just the 10th father/son duo to both be inducted into the Hall of Fame since 1969.
Up Next
The Sycamores stay on the road to face off against Loyola on Wednesday, January 3 inside Gentile Arena. The game will air live on NBC Sports Chicago as well as The Valley on ESPN3.
