TERRE HAUTE, Ind. ? Through 26 minutes of play, things did not look good for Indiana State as the team faced a 21-point deficit to Wichita State in the second half of Tuesday night's game. However, the Sycamores (13-13, 8-8 MVC) mounted one of the most stunning comebacks in recent history and forced the game into overtime, where they eventually came away with an 83-73 win over the Shockers (10-7, 3-13 MVC) to earn their 12th win at the Hulman Center this season.
Indiana State held an early 12-8 lead, after senior Gabe Moore completed a three-point play with 12:11 left in the first half. The Sycamores then extended that lead to 20-13 with 7:09 left after a couple of free throws by Moore. But, Wichita State answered with an 8-0 run to take a 21-20 lead after Matt Braeuer connected from three-point range. ISU quickly answered with a three-pointer by Moore, before a jumper by P.J. Couisnard knotted the score at 23-23 with 3:45 left in the half. The Shockers then went on a 7-0 run, capped off by a layup by Ramon Clemente, to take a 30-23 lead into the locker room at halftime.
The Shockers came out and started the second half much like they ended the first. After a layup by Harry Marshall cut the WSU lead to five just 20 seconds into the half, the Shockers answered by going on a 15-0 run over the next six minutes to widen their lead to 45-25 with 14:41 left on the clock. Isiah Martin's tip-in at the 13:57 mark ended the drought for the Sycamores, but a three-point play from Clemente extended the WSU lead to 21 points at 48-27 with 13:43 left on the clock.
Indiana State found something after that time, though, and proceeded to go on an improbable 21-0 run to tie the score at 48. A jumper by Martin got the scoring started and Moore followed with a jumper of his own to cut the lead to 17. The Sycamores put on a full-court press during the stretch the flustered the Shockers, while Aaron Carter hit a three and Moore scored five-straight points to cut the lead to 48-39. After ISU forced a turnover by Couisnard, Cole Holmstrom connected from three-point range and Todd McCoy came right back down the court and hit one of his own to cut the lead to three at 48-45.
Gal Mekel then missed a three-point attempt on the next trip down the floor for Wichita State and ISU took the ball down the floor and kicked the ball out to McCoy who nailed the three-pointer to tie the game at 48-48. Wichita State did not back down, though, and scored the next seven points in a row to take a 55-48 lead with 5:43 left in the game. That lead would eventually grow to 62-52 after Couisnard made a free throw with 2:32 left on the clock.
But, Indiana State rallied once again and cut the Shocker lead to five at 63-58 after a tip-in by Carter. J.T. Durley then hit a free throw to put WSU back up by six, before a three-point by Jay Tunnell cut the lead to 64-61 with 41 seconds remaining. Mekel was then fouled and hit two free throws to put the Shockers up 66-61 with 31 seconds left, but Moore answered with two free throws of his own to cut the lead back to three at 66-63. The Sycamores fouled once again and this time Durley missed two free throws and Carter added a layup to cut the lead to one for ISU. Durley then hit a free throw to put WSU up 67-65 with 11 seconds left, but Moore drove the ball down the court and made a layup with four seconds left to send the game into overtime tied at 67-67.
Indiana State began the overtime period by scoring the first four points to take a 71-67 lead with 3:43 left to play. That lead would later grow to 74-69 after a three-pointer by McCoy at the 2:20 mark. Durley answered with a jumper, to cut the lead to two for the Shockers with 1:50 left to play, but Moore came right back and connected from three-point range to put ISU up 77-71 with 1:14 left in the period.
Moore followed that with two more free throws to make the lead 79-71, before Braeuer made a jumper to cut the lead to six for Wichita State. That would be the last points of the game for the Shockers, though, as Marico Stinson and Moore each made two free throws down the stretch to secure the 83-73 overtime victory for the Sycamores.
Moore tied his career high with 29 points, including a 12-for-13 performance from the free throw line, and added five assists in the win for ISU. Carter also set a new career high by scoring 14 points, while McCoy scored all nine of his points by shooting 3-for-4 from three-point range, including the initial game-tying trey. Braeuer led WSU in scoring with 21 points, while Clemente and Couisnard each chipped in with 15 points apiece.
The Sycamores return to action on Saturday, when they travel to Murray, Ky., to take on the Murray State Racers as part of the ESPNU/O'Reilly's BracketBusters series. Tip off is set for 7:05 p.m. EST.
