TERRE HAUTE, Ind. ? The Indiana State Sycamores returned home on Wednesday night for an in-state match up against rival Evansville looking to keep their home record unblemished. The Sycamores (10-8, 5-3 MVC) did just that with a convincing 72-42 win over the Purple Aces (5-13, 0-8 MVC) in front of 4,573 fans at the Hulman Center to improve their home record to 9-0 this season.
The win snapped a two-game losing streak to the Aces at home for ISU and gave the Sycamores a season sweep over their rivals from the south for the first time since 2004. The 30-point win was also the largest margin of victory for the team since the 2001 season.
The Aces jumped out to a quick 6-3 lead after a dunk by center Pieter van Tongeren. However, the Sycamores came right back and went on a 12-3 run, with senior Gabe Moore's three-pointer giving ISU its first lead of the game at 8-6, to take a 15-6 lead after a free throw by freshman Isiah Martin. The ISU lead would then balloon to 22-7 after a layup and a three-pointer from junior Jay Tunnell. After the Sycamores widened the lead to 20 points on a three-pointer by sophomore Marico Stinson, Evansville cut into the lead at 27-9 after a jumper by Darin Granger with 6:58 left in the half.
ISU would then finish out the half on a 17-5 run to take a commanding lead into the locker room at halftime. A Stinson three-pointer gave the Sycamores a 23-point lead at 32-9 to kick start the attack and Adam Arnold and Martin followed with back-to-back layups. After a couple of jumpers from Nate Garner cut into the ISU lead at 38-12, sophomore Cole Holmstrom connected from three-point range to put ISU up 41-12 with just over a minute to play. Shy Ely then nailed a jumper for Evansville before sophomore Harry Marshall hit a last-second three-pointer to give ISU a 44-14 lead at the intermission.
The second half started much like the first ended, with the Sycamores jumping out to a 31-point lead at 54-23 after a tip-in by Todd McCoy and then widened that lead to 34 points after three-pointer by Tunnell with 12:51 left on the clock. Evansville did not give up, though, and proceeded to hold the Sycamores to just seven points over the next five minutes and cut the lead to 64-38 after two free throws by Ely.
Indiana State then scored the next six points to widen the lead to 32 points at 70-38 with 2:33 left in the game and went on to secure the 72-42 victory. ISU had four players in double figures on the night, with Moore leading the way with 14 points, seven assists and five steals. McCoy recorded the first double-double of his career with 12 points and 12 rebounds, while Tunnel and Marshall each added 10 points in the win.
The Sycamores return to action on Sunday, when they hit the road to face off against Illinois State. Tip off is set for 3:05 EST at Redbird Arena in Normal, Ill.
