Game 17 Bradley (10-6, 4-1 MVC) at Indiana State (4-12, 2-3 MVC)
January 13, 2009 ► 7:05 p.m. ET ► Terre Haute, Ind. ► Hulman Center (10,200)
Game Day Central
Series: Bradley Leads 45-24
Streak: Bradley Has Won 3 of last 4
Television: WTWO (NBC)
Play-By-Play: Jason Pensky
Analyst: Jim Waugh
Radio: The Crock 92.7 FM
Play-By-Play: Brian Fritz
Analyst: Matt Renn
Internet: GoSycamores.com
Storylines
Indiana State (4-12, 2-3 MVC) wraps up a two-game homestand tonight against league-leading Bradley (10-6, 4-1 MVC) at Hulman Center after a thrilling win over Illinois State on Saturday. Tip off is set for 7 p.m. on Nellie & John Wooden Court.
The Sycamores needed 45 minutes to defeat the Redbirds on SERVPRO Fan Appreciation Day and earned their second win of the season over a conference opponent in overtime.
ISU held their opponents to just 27.3 percent shooting from three-point range and out-rebounded the ?Birds by a 38-33 margin in front of a loud and raucous crowd.
Six Indiana State players scored in double, figures marking the first time since 1999 a Sycamore team had achieved that feat. Jordan Printy (15), Carl Richard (14), Harry Marshall (12), Aaron Carter and Rashad Reed (11 each) and Jay Tunnell (10) all chipped in double figures to help the Sycamores give Illinois State just its second loss of the season.
Bradley is coming off a 73-64 loss at home at Carver Arena on Saturday night to Creighton. The loss snapped Bradley's season-best five-game winning streak and dropped the Braves out of sole possession of first place in The Valley standings and into a tie with Northern Iowa and Drake.
Junior guard Dodie Dunson provided scoring off the bench with a game-high 16 points. Senior forward Theron Wilson and sophomore guard Sam Maniscalco both scored 15 points and freshman guard Eddren McCain added 12 points and a game-high six assists.
Tuesday's game will be the 70th meeting in the all-time series between the two schools, with the Braves owning a 45-24 advantage. Indiana State has won three of the last four home meetings against Bradley, including a 76-66 victory over the Braves last season at Hulman Center on Feb. 12.
About The Coaches
Kevin McKenna (Creighton ?93) is in his second season as the head coach at Indiana State (19-28). In his first season with the Sycamores, McKenna led the team to its highest win total since the 2000-01 season and an impressive 12-2 record at home in the Hulman Center. McKenna came to Indiana State after spending nine seasons as an assistant coach at Creighton under head coach Dana Altman, where he helped the Bluejays advance to four NCAA tournament appearances. From 2001-05, McKenna spent four years as the head coach (89-33) at NCAA Division II Nebraska-Omaha, where he guided the Mavericks to four consecutive 20-win seasons and three appearances in the NCAA Division II Tournament.
Bradley's Jim Les (Bradley ?86) is in his seventh year as the head coach at his alma mater (115-96). Les has led the Braves to three straight postseason appearances, including a trip to the 2006 NCAA Tournament Sweet 16. In addition, he has led the team to three straight 21-win seasons, including a 21-17 record last season that culminated in the team advancing to the inaugural championship series of the College Basketball Invitational.
Scouting The Braves
► Bradley University is located in Peoria, Ill., and has an enrollment of 6,055 students. The Braves are members of the Missouri Valley Conference and play their home games at Carver Arena (11,164).
► The Braves finished with an overall record of 21-17 during the 2007-08 season. In conference play, Bradley posted a 9-9 record which placed the Braves in a tie for fifth place in the league standings. Their season ended with a 70-64 loss to Tulsa in the inaugural championship series of the College Basketball Invitational (Lost 2-of-3 in Finals).
► The Braves return two starters and seven lettermen from last year's squad. Senior forward Theron Wilson leads the way scoring 14.0 points per game while pulling down 7.0 rebounds per contest. A pair of guards are also scoring in double figures, with sophomore Sam Maniscalco averaging 11.0 per contest and junior Dodie Dunson with 10.0 points per game.
► Bradley (10-6, 4-1 MVC) is coming off a 73-64 Missouri Valley Conference men's basketball loss Saturday night at Carver Arena to the Creighton Bluejays (13-4, 3-2 MVC). The loss snaps Bradley's season-best five-game winning streak and dropped the Braves out of sole possession of first place in The Valley standings.
Last Time Against The Braves
TERRE HAUTE, Ind. ? Indiana State (11-13, 6-8 MVC) stayed true to their winning ways and earned a 76-66 win over Bradley (14-12, 7-7 MVC) to improve to 10-1 at the Hulman Center this season and snap a five-game losing streak.
The two squads were knotted at 7-7 just four minutes into the game, after Jay Tunnell connected on a jumper to tie the game for the third time. After a Gabe Moore jumper and a layup by Isiah Martin, the Sycamores jumped out to an 11-7 lead and later led by four points at 13-9 after a jumper by Cole Holmstrom. The Braves would fight right back, though, and scored the next five points to take a 14-13 lead with 11:19 left on the clock.
The back-and-forth basketball continued, as the teams traded the lead six times before the Sycamores eventually held on to the lead to close the half. Tunnell's jumper with 1:05 left in the half knotted the score at 31-31 before two free throws by Moore gave ISU a two-point lead at 33-31 with 46 seconds remaining. Bradley got a free throw from Daniel Ruffin with 31 seconds left in the half to make the score 33-32, which was the score the teams took to the locker room at halftime.
Indiana State controlled the tempo to start the second half, as the team jumped out to a seven-point lead at 43-36 five minutes in. The ISU lead would later get cut to one at 47-46 after Ruffin connected from the free throw line with 10:25 left on scoreboard.
That would be the last point for the Braves over the next two and a half minutes, as ISU went on a 10-0 run to take its largest lead of the game at 57-46. After a time out, Ruffin hit a big three pointer for to cut the ISU lead to eight at 57-49, but another three by Stinson once again gave the Sycamores an 11-point advantage at 60-49. Bradley did not go away, as the Braves chipped away at the lead and cut it to three at 63-58 after two free throws from Ruffin with 2:58 left in the game.
From there, Moore took over for ISU and scored two buckets to put the Sycamores up 66-60 with 1:14 remaining. Adam Arnold then sunk two free throws for ISU to widen the lead to eight, before Ruffin added two more free throws to bring the lead back down to six points at 68-62. Arnold then added two more free throws and Moore hit six-straight free throws over the last 42 seconds to secure the 76-66 win.
Extra Time Pays Dividends
Indiana State is no stranger to winning games in overtime, as seen in the team's thrilling 75-70 win over Illinois State. In fact, the Sycamores have won their last five games in a row when needing extra time including a perfect 4-0 mark under head coach Kevin McKenna. All four of those wins have come against Valley opponents as well, with wins over Southern Illinois (2 OT) and Wichita State last year and a win at UNI (2 OT) and against Illinois State this season. That last time ISU lost in overtime was on Dec. 2, 2006, when ISU dropped a 73-70 decision to in-state rival Ball State under head coach Royce Waltman.
Spreading The Wealth
The Sycamores needed help from everyone on the floor in order to pull out a 75-70 win in overtime against Illinois State. In all, six Indiana State players scored in double figures marking the first time since 1999 a Sycamore team had achieved that feat. Jordan Printy (15 pts.), Carl Richard (14 pts.), Harry Marshall (12 pts.), Aaron Carter and Rashad Reed (11 pts. Each) and Jay Tunnell (10 pts.) all chipped in double figures to help the Sycamores to their second conference win of the season on Saturday against the Redbirds. The last six-pack of Sycamores who scored in double figures included Matt Renn (16 pts.), Matt Broermann (15 pts.), Kelyn Block (13 pts.), Michael Menser (11 pts.) and Nate Green and Terence Avery (10 pts. each) against Montana State at the Top Of The World Classic on Nov. 20, 1999, in Fairbanks, Alaska.
What A Difference A Game Makes
Freshman Jordan Printy struggled on Wednesday in his home state against Drake as he finished the game 0-for-8 from the field against the Bulldogs. However, the Marion, Iowa, native bounced back well on Saturday against Illinois State, tying a career high with 15 points on a perfect shooting night for the Sycamores. Printy finished 4-for-4 from the field, including a 3-for-3 effort from three point range, and was a perfect 4-for-4 from the free throw line.
Double Trouble
Freshman Carl Richard's rebounding numbers have steadily increased throughout the season, but his scoring output improved for the Sycamores in two games last week. The Chicago, Ill., native averaged a double-double for the week with 12.5 points and 10.0 rebounds per game while playing an average of 31.5 minutes per contest. On Wednesday at Drake, Richard tallied 11 points and eight rebounds against the Bulldogs in 27 minutes of action. He added to that performance on Saturday against the Redbirds, when he recorded his second career double-double with 14 points and a career-high 12 rebounds to help the Sycamores to their second conference win of the season.
Crashing The Boards
The Sycamores have struggled getting rebounds at times throughout the season, but that was not the case in two games last week. Indiana State won the battle on the boards against Drake on Wednesday 41-28, which helped the team score 15 second-chance points. The Sycamores followed that up by out-rebounding Illinois State on Saturday at Hulman Center 38-33. ISU has now out-rebounded their Valley in three of the team's five conference games, including both games on the road.
500 Boards And Counting
Milestones are starting to mount up for senior forward Jay Tunnell this season and he added another to his trophy case against Drake. The Topeka, Kan., native grabbed 10 rebounds to put him over 500 in his career at Indiana State (507).
Missed It By That Much
Senior Jay Tunnell has been one of the Sycamores most consistent scorers and rebounders this season, as he is averaging 10.6 points and 6.6 rebounds per contest. On Wednesday against Drake, Tunnell just missed out on his fifth career double-double as he grabbed a season-high 10 rebounds but tallied just nine points for the Sycamores. Then, on Saturday against Illinois State, Tunnell just missed out again with 10 points and nine rebounds against the Redbirds. Tunnell had two double-double performances as a junior during the 2007-08 season and two during his sophomore campaign in 2006-07.
Martin Takes A Bite Out Of The Bulldogs
Sophomore Isiah Martin has struggled at times offensively this season, but he showed his scoring ability on Wednesday against Drake. Martin led the way for the Sycamores with a game-high 12 points, including a stretch in which he scored four consecutive buckets for the Sycamores. His most impressive shot during that stretch was follow-up dunk that cut the score to 18-12 early in the first half.
Blocks-A-Plenty Against The Aces
The long arms of Indiana State's post defenders were busy on Sunday against Evansville, as the Sycamores racked up 11 blocked shots against their in-state rivals from the south. The 11 blocks by the Sycamores were just one short of the team's single-game record of 12, which was set in 1984 against SIU-Edwardsville. Forward Isiah Martin, who led the Missouri Valley Conference last season in blocked shots with 59, had a season-high five swats to lead the way while center Brant Leitnaker chipped in with two of his own. Forward Jay Tunnell, center Josh Crawford and guards Rashad Reed and Jordan Printy each added a block apiece to round out the defensive effort for the Sycamores against the Aces.
Shutting Down The Three
Evansville came to the Hulman Center on Sunday averaging 71.2 points per game and nearly four three-pointer per contest. However, the Sycamores shut down the Purple Aces' scoring from the perimeter, as Evansville finished 0-for-6 from three-point range against the Sycamores. It marked the first time all season the Sycamores had held an opponent without a made three-pointer and it was the first time Evansville did not connect on a trey in 13 games this season. Sharpshooter Jason Holsinger was 0-for-4 from three-point land for the Aces, while Shy Ely and Kaylon Williams each missed on their only attempts of the day.
Leitnaker Earns First Career Start
Redshirt sophomore center Brant Leitnaker has battled injuries throughout his time at Indiana State and has played in just 18 games in three years on campus. However, his size in the post was needed against Northern Iowa and the Lancaster, Ohio, native was put into the starting lineup for the first time in his career to match up with UNI big man Jordan Eglseder. Leitnaker scored the team's first two points of the game, which turned out to be his only of the contest, and grabbed a rebound in 14 minutes of action. In addition, he helped hold the 7-foot-1 Eglseder to just four points in 18 minutes of action after coming in averaging a team-high 12.6 per game.
McKenna Remains Unbeaten In Valley Openers
In each of his two seasons on the bench at Indiana State, head coach Kevin McKenna's teams have opened Missouri Valley Conference play on the road. In those two contests, the Sycamores have earned big wins in both after the Sycamores defeated Northern Iowa in double overtime 85-84 on Sunday in Cedar Falls. Last season, ISU opened Valley play with a 70-56 win at Evansville on Dec. 29 to pick up its lone conference road win of the season.
Double Overtime ... No Sweat
Indiana State's 85-84 double-overtime win at Northern Iowa was its second such win in two seasons. Last year, the Sycamores defeated Southern Illinois 64-62 in double overtime on Jan. 12 at the Hulman Center thanks to a 3-pointer by Marico Stinson.
JP For Three
Redshirt freshman Jordan Printy had a breakout day against IUPUI at Conseco Fieldhouse, connecting on a career-high five three pointers to finish with 15 points. The Marion, Iowa, native was 5-for-7 from beyond the arch in the game and added two rebounds and a blocked shot in a career-high 25 minutes of action against the Jaguars. Printy's previous career high was eight points, which he set earlier this season against Murray State.
Crawford Returns To Form
Junior transfer Josh Crawford averaged 14.5 points, 6.5 rebounds and 3.5 blocks in his first two games in an ISU uniform. Over the next seven games, though, Crawford struggled to find his game and averaged just 2.6 points and 2.9 rebounds per game while blocking just eight shots. However, he broke out of that funk against DePauw with 10 points, six rebounds and three blocked shots in 12 minutes of action to help the Sycamores to their second win of the season. With that performance, Crawford is now averaging 5.7 points and 3.8 rebounds per game while adding 18 blocked shots.
Kentucky Brings Out The Best In Cutter, Leitnaker
Freshman point guard Tyler Cutter and sophomore center Brant Leitnaker enjoyed playing over the weekend at the Marques Maybin Classic, as both set new career highs on the historic floor of Freedom Hall. Cutter played a strong game against No. 11 Louisville, as he scored a career-high eight points in 24 minutes of action. He followed that up by dishing out a career-high eight assists against Lamar to help the team win its first game of the season. Leitnaker also had a career effort against Louisville, as he scored a career-high nine points while tying his career high with five rebounds in 15 minutes of action against the Cardinals.
Dialed In From Long Distance
Against Murray State, the Sycamores made a season-high 12 three-pointers score 36 of the team's 61 total points. Redshirt freshman Keenan Barlow led the way with a 3-for-4 effort to end up with a career-high 11 points, while fellow redshirt freshman Jordan Printy, senior Jay Tunnell, junior Rashad Reed and sophomore Aaron Carter each added two treys against the Racers.
Honoring A True Sycamore Legend
Prior to the start of lSU's first exhibition game against Albion College, the floor at Hulman Center will officially be named the Nellie and John Wooden Court in honor of the legendary coach and his late wife, Nellie. Prior to achieving legendary success as the head coach at UCLA, Wooden began his collegiate coaching career and served two years as head men's basketball coach, baseball coach and athletics director at Indiana State from 1946 to 1948. While earning his master's degree at Indiana State, he compiled a 44-15 record as basketball coach while leading the Sycamores to post-season tournament appearances each year and two conference championships. In addition, coach Wooden will also be inducted into the Missouri Valley Conference Athletics Hall of Fame in March.
