TERRE HAUTE, Ind. ? Indiana State returned home on Saturday looking to rebound from the team's disappointing 25-point loss on Wednesday at Drake, but they had to face off against a Southern Illinois team who had won 12 of the last 13 meetings between the two schools. It took two overtimes, but the Sycamores (9-6, 4-1 MVC) pulled out a thrilling 64-62 win over the Salukis (7-9, 1-3 MVC) in front of a loud Hulman Center crowd of 4,733.
The double-overtime victory was the first for the Sycamores since Dec. 19, 1999, when ISU earned a 102-91 win over Eastern Illinois at the Hulman Center. The win also snapped a seven-game losing streak to SIU at the Hulman Center and improved ISU's record at home this season to 8-0.
The Salukis jumped out to an early 10-7 lead in the first half, however ISU quickly answered with four-straight points to take the lead 11-10 on a tip-in by Adam Arnold. SIU got the lead back quickly and widened it to five points at 16-11 on a Tyrone Green jumper with 9:29 left on the clock. The Sycamores fought right back, thanks to back-to-back three-pointers by Jay Tunnell to cut the lead to one at 20-19. ISU later cut the lead to four points at 26-22 on a Gabe Moore free throw, but SIU scored the last four points of the half to take a 30-22 advantage into the locker room at halftime.
The second half began with SIU widening its lead to nine points at 34-25, but two free throws from senior Todd McCoy and a three-pointer by Arnold cut the lead to four points at 34-30 with 13:42 left in the game. The Salukis maintained a small lead for the next seven minutes before a layup by Marico Stinson gave ISU a one-point advantage at 43-42 with 3:04 left on the clock.
SIU fought right back to regain the lead on a Randal Falker jumper and then two free throws by Harry Marshall gave the Sycamores the lead right back at 45-44 with 2:11 left in the game. Matt Shaw then connected from three-point range for SIU to give the Salukis a 47-45 lead with just 1:44 left. ISU was patient over the next minute, before Moore connected on a jumper to knot the score at 47-47 with 29 seconds left. Southern Illinois had the last shot, but a Bryan Mullins jumper fell short to send the game to its first overtime period.
ISU fell into a quick hole to start overtime, as a three-pointer by Mullins and a jumper by Shaw put SIU up 52-47 just a minute and a half into the extra frame. Two free throws by Marshall cut the lead two three points at 52-49 before a three-pointer by Marico Stinson tied the game at 59-59 with 1:33 left. Both teams had good looks at the basket, but neither team could convert and the game went into the second overtime period.
Two free throws by Falker put the Salukis up 54-52 just 13 seconds into the second overtime session. After a Marshall free throw cut the lead to one point, a jumper by Stinson gave ISU the advantage at 55-54 with 3:15 left on the clock. SIU regained the lead on two free throws from Shaw, before a free throw from Arnold once against tied the game for the eighth time at 56-56 with 2:43 left.
SIU took the lead 57-56 on a free throw by Mullins with 1:38 left in the game, before Stinson connected on a three-pointer to give ISU a two-point advantage at 59-57 with 1:22 left. Mullins then tied the game for the ninth time on a jumper for SIU, before Marshall connected on two more free throws to give the Sycamores a two-point lead at 61-59 with 36 seconds left.
The Salukis then came down the court and Shaw missed a three-pointer, but Green corralled the offensive rebound and kicked the ball out to Mullins, who connected from the top of the key on three-pointer to put SIU up one point with 12 seconds left. However, the Sycamores had one more shot left and Stinson connected on his fourth three-pointer of the game to put ISU up 64-62 with two seconds left. The Salukis made one last-effort heave down the court, but could not get a shot off and the Sycamores came away with the 64-62 win.
Stinson finished with a game-high 20 points, including the game-winning three-pointer, to lead the way for the Sycamores. Marshall was clutch down the stretch from the free throw line, finishing 14-for-19 from the charity stripe after missing his first four free-throw attempts, to finish with 16 points. Tunnel finished with 10 points, all of which were scored in the first half. Mullins was one of three Salukis in double figures, leading the way with 18 points while Shaw finished with 16 points and 14 rebounds in the loss.
The Sycamores return to action on Tuesday, January 15, when they hit the road for a match up against the Missouri State Bears. Tip off is set for 8:05 EST at the Hammons Student Center in Springfield, Mo.
