EVANSVILLE, Ind.  ? It was an ominous start for Indiana State on the road Saturday night in Evansville, as the Sycamores did not score for the first 10 minutes of the game.  ISU (4-14, 2-5 MVC) fought back in the second half of the game thanks to freshman Carl Richard's third career double-double, but a poor shooting night and 21 turnovers gave Evansville (12-5, 4-3) a 63-57 win in what was a sloppy and foul-ridden game at Roberts Stadium.

Evansville jumped out to an 18-0 lead, holding the Sycamores scoreless for the first nine-plus minutes of the game.  ISU eventually ended the scoring drought at the 9:24 mark of the first half, as senior Jay Tunnell connected from three-point range to put the Sycamores on the scoreboard.  Tunnell then added two free throws with 9:05 left in the half to make the score 18-5.  Evansville quickly answered with a jumper from Shy Ely to go back up by 15 points, but Rashad Reed nailed a jumper from the left corner to make the score 20-7 in favor of Evansville. 

After two free throws from Ely, Reed nailed a three-pointer from the top of the key at the 7:54 mark to cut the Evansville lead to 12 points and 22-10.  After a Jordan Printy hit the second of two free throw shots, Kavon Lacey connected from the top of the key from three-point range to widen the lead back to 25-11 with 4:24 remaining in the first half of play.

Neither team could muster much offense over the final four-plus minutes of play in the half, as Kaylon Williams hit a late bucket with two seconds remaining on the clock to give the Purple Aces a 30-14 advantage into the locker room at halftime.  The 14 points for the Sycamores set a new season low, breaking the previous mark of 17 scored in the first half against Louisville at the Marques Maybin Classic on Dec. 6.

ISU scored the first points of the second half on a Tunnell layup just 20 seconds in to cut the lead to 30-16, but Ely answered for Evansville with a layup of his own to put the Aces back up by 16 points at 32-16 with 18:19 remaining in the game. 

ISU then went on a quick 11-3 run to cut the Evansville lead to 35-27 at the 14:00 mark.  Jordan Printy started the run for the Sycamores and the team added seven points from the free throw line after going into the double bonus.  Josh Crawford capped off the run with a nifty move in the paint to cut the lead to single digits for the first time since the first half.

Evansville maintained its lead and extended its advantage to 48-35 after a jumper in the lane by Kavon Lacey with 7:04 left on the clock.  The Sycamores then fought back with four straight points on a free throw by Printy and a three-pointer by Reed to cut the lead to 48-39 with 6:09 left.

The two squads traded points over the next two minutes, with Indiana State cutting the lead to 52-44 at the 4:31 mark on a layup by Leitnaker.  After trading free throws, a tip-in by Printy with 2:42 remaining in the game kept the Evansville advantage at eight points, 56-48.  After a called timeout by ISU head coach Kevin McKenna, the Sycamores forced a turnover and Printy buried a three-pointer to cut the lead to just five at 56-51 with 2:33 left. 

Williams then hit two free throws to put the Aces back up by seven points, before a jumper in the lane by Leitnaker cut the lead back to five at 58-53 with 2:15 remaining in the game.  Lacey was then fouled and hit the second of two free throws to put Evansville up 59-53, but Tunnell answered on the other end for the Sycamores with a free throw of his own to make the score 59-54 with 1:29 left.

Lacey then missed two free throws and Reed answered with a jumper for the Sycamores to cut the lead to just three points at 59-56, before Clint Hopf put up a layup to widen the Evansville lead to 61-56 with 28 seconds left on the clock.  Hopf then added one more free throw with 11 seconds remaining to widen the lead to 62-56, before Tyler Cutter connected on the first of two free throws to make the score 62-57. 

Williams added one last free throw to bring the score to its final at 63-57, earning the Purple Aces a season sweep over the Sycamores.  Reed led the way for the Sycamores with 12 points and Jordan Printy chipped in with 11 for the Sycamores.  Freshman Carl Richard also had a big day, as he recorded his third double-double in seven games, scoring 10 points and grabbing 12 rebounds.

Indiana State returns to action on Wednesday, January 21, when the Sycamores host the visiting Southern Illinois Salukis.  In order to raise awareness for Samaritan's Feet, ISU head coach Kevin McKenna will coach the game barefoot. Fans are encouraged to drop off a pair of new shoes at any of the entrances at Hulman Center prior to the 7:05 p.m. tip off on Nellie & John Wooden Court.