TERRE HAUTE, Ind. ? The Indiana State Sycamores had not started 2-0 in Missouri Valley Conference play since the 2000-01 season until Wednesday night, when ISU (7-5, 2-0 MVC) defeated the Creighton Bluejays (9-3, 0-2 MVC) by a score of 62-54 in front of 3,254 fans at the Hulman Center. The win also kept the Sycamores undefeated at home this season at 6-0, their best start since the team won 22 straight at Hulman Center from Dec. 7, 1999 to Jan. 31, 2001.
With the score tied 5-5 early, the Sycamores went on an 8-0 run capped off by a jumper by freshman Isiah Martin to take a 13-5 lead with 14:29 left in the half. The ISU lead would then grow to 11 points at 18-7 after a three-pointer by freshman Lamar Lee at the 12:22 mark.
However, Creighton would come right back and proceed to go on a 13-0 over the next six-plus minutes to take a 20-18 lead with 5:53 left in the game. The run was capped off by a three-pointer by Booker Woodfox, his second of the run, to give the Bluejays their first lead of the game. ISU came right back and quickly tied the game at 20-20 after two free throws by senior Todd McCoy. McCoy then connected from three-point range to give the Sycamores a three-point lead with 3:25 left in the half and ISU would hold on to take a 25-24 lead into the locker room at halftime.
ISU started the second half on a 7-0 run to widen the lead to eight points at 32-24. The Sycamores maintained that lead over the next eight minutes and led by as many as 12 points after a layup by Harry Marshall with 9:10 left in the game. Creighton fought back and cut the lead to seven points at 50-43 at the 6:47 mark after a jumper by P'Allen Stinnett.
That would be as close as the Bluejays would get though, as ISU finished strong and led by as much as 13 points with just under two minutes left at 62-49 after a free throw by Marshall. Creighton finished the game on a 5-0 run, but the lead was too much and the Sycamores secured the 62-54 victory.
Senior Gabe Moore led the Sycamores with 13 points and also grabbed six rebounds while dishing out five assists. He was joined in double figures by Marshall who finished with 10 points, while Martin finished the game with six blocks on the defensive end. Woodfox led all scorers with 16 points for Creighton.
The Sycamores return to action on Saturday, January 5, when they face off against the Northern Iowa Panthers. Tip off is set for 8:05 p.m. EST and will be televised live on Fox Sports Midwest as part of the Missouri Valley Conference television package.
