TERRE HAUTE, Ind. ? The home crowd at the Hulman Center was 4,570 people strong on Saturday and Indiana State fed off their energy, as the Sycamores (12-13, 7-8 MVC) rallied late and earned a 76-72 win over Illinois State (18-8, 10-5-MVC) to improve their home record to 11-1 this season.
Illinois State jumped out to a quick 15-4 lead, highlighted by the play of Osiris Eldridge who hit three three-pointers and added a layup for 11 total points during the run. The Redbirds maintained the 11-point advantage and went up 18-7 with 14:39 on the clock after Eldridge made a free throw to complete a three-point play. The Sycamores answered with five quick points on a three-pointer by Jay Tunnell and a jumper by Todd McCoy to cut the lead to 18-12 just a minute later.
Eldridge continued his torrid shooting and put the Redbirds up 25-14 after another three-pointer. However, Marico Stinson answered with a three of his own to cut the lead to eight for Indiana State. After a Tunnell jumper lessened the lead to seven points with 9:20 on the clock, Eldridge nailed another three to put Illinois State up 29-19. The Redbirds controlled the game over the next six-plus minutes and eventually widened their lead to 13 points at 39-26 after two free throws by Anthony Slack with 2:55 left in the half.
Indiana State did not go away, though, and finished the half on a 9-1 run to cut the Illinois State lead to five at the intermission. Two free throws by Adam Arnold got the run started and Gabe Moore kept it going with a jumper to cut the lead to nine. Two free throws by Harry Marshall then cut the lead to seven at 39-32 before a free throw from Illinois State's Dinma Odiakosa put the lead back at eight. The Sycamores scored the final points of the half, as Aaron Carter nailed a three-pointer with 31 seconds remaining to make the score 40-35 in favor of the Redbirds at the half.
Indiana State came out of the locker room firing on a 10-3 run to take its first lead of the game. Tunnel chipped in six points on three jumpers during the run for the Sycamores and a layup by Carter put ISU up 45-44 with 13:17 left on the clock. The Sycamores maintained a small lead over the next four minutes, with the Redbirds tying the game twice. Marshall eventually put the Sycamores up 57-54 with 9:00 left to play, before a jumper by Eldridge and a layup by Slack gave the Redbirds a one-point advantage at 58-57.
After another three-pointer by Eldridge, the Redbirds took a five-point lead at 64-59 with 6:21 left to play. Indiana State came right back and a three from Tunnell cut the lead to 64-63, but Brandon Sampay's layup gave Illinois State a three-point lead once again at 66-63. Marshall quickly answered with a three-pointer to tie the game at 66-66 for the Sycamores with 4:36 remaining.
The two teams then traded baskets to knot the score at 68-68, before a layup by Marshall put Indiana State up 70-68. After a free throw by Emmanuel Holloway cut the lead to one for the Redbirds, Moore hit two free throws to put the Sycamores up by three at 72-69 with 32 seconds remaining. Stinson then chipped in two free throws to widen the lead to five, before Boo Richardson converted on a three-point play to cut the lead to 74-72 with 15 seconds left for Illinois State. However, the Sycamores stayed cool and Moore hit two more free throws to ice the game and give ISU a 76-72 victory.
Indiana State had four players in double figures, with Tunnell leading the way with 14 points and eight rebounds. Moore added 14 points and seven assists in the win, while Marshall and Stinson added 14 and 12 points, respectively. Eldridge finished with a game-high 34 points, including a 7-for-9 from three-point range, while Slack finished with 10 points for the Redbirds.
The Sycamores wrap up their three-game home stand on Tuesday, February 19, when they face off against the Wichita State Shockers. Tip off is set for 7:07 p.m. EST at the Hulman Center.
