ST. LOUIS - Marico Stinson (Memphis, TN) nailed a three-pointer with 16 seconds left that gave Indiana State a 68-65 win over Illinois State in the play-in round of the 2007 State Farm Missouri Valley Conference tournament.
Stinson's three was the highlight of a 12-point comeback by the Sycamores (13-17), who will now face second seed Creighton in the quarterfinals Friday night at 7pm Terre Haute time.
Illinois State (15-16) led 54-42 with 11:40 after Boo Richardson hit two free throws. Indiana State answered with a Cole Holmstrom (Bloomington, IN) three pointer, two Jay Tunnell (Topeka, KS) free throws and a Gabe Moore (Little Rock, Ark) to narrow the gap to five, 59-54 with 8:22 left. Trent Wurtz (Sheboygan, WI) then hit a line-drive three pointer to make it 60-57. Holmstrom then hit another three to tie the game at 60 with 6:01 left. The game went back and forth with two more ties before Stinson's three pointer from the right wing. Wurtz hit one of two free throws for the final margin.
Four Sycamores ended in double figures, led by Tunnell's 16 points and seven rebounds. Holmstrom, coming off the bench, had 12 followed by Moore and Adam Arnold (Decatur, IN) each with 10.
The Sycamores out rebounded their second straight opponent 34-31. The score was tied seven ties and their were 12 lead changes.
Friday's game can be heard on WSDM 92.7 and on the internet at www.crock927.com. The quarterfinals will also be seen on Fox Sports Midwest and Time Warner Cable channel 13, DirecTV channel 647 and Dish Network channel 418.
