TERRE HAUTE, Ind. ? Something had to give on Wednesday night in Terre Haute, as Indiana State came into the game on a six-game losing streak while Wichita State came in with an 0-7 record on the season in road contests. The Sycamores (4-19, 2-10 MVC) battled with the Shockers (11-12, 5-7 MVC) and held a three-point lead at halftime, but a second half surge gave WSU its first road win of the season by a score of 64-58.
ISU began the game with a high level on the defensive end, limiting Wichita State to just two baskets in the first six minutes and 52 seconds while taking an 8-4 lead. ISU jumped to a 5-0 lead after two free throws from Brant Leitnaker, before the Shockers picked up their first points of the game on a layup by J.T. Durley.
The Shockers capitalized on missed shot by Harry Marshall, as Graham Hatch drained a three pointer to move the Shockers within a point at 8-7. After a skirmish under the basket, the Sycamores got control of the ball and Aaron Carter beat all the Wichita State players down the floor and converted on a fast break layup to put the Sycamores up 10-7 at the 10:39 mark.
Wichita State then answered with a three pointer of its own by Reggie Chamberlain to pull even at 10 all just seconds later. Carter continued his hot shooting, as he nailed a three pointer with 8:25 left in the half to put Indiana State up by three points at 13-10.
Aaron Ellis answered the Carter three with a jumper to pull the Shockers within one and David Kyles converted another jumper to give the Shockers their first lead of the game at 14-13 with 7:08 left in the first half. Marshall answered the challenge with a dunk of his own to retake the lead for the Sycamores at 15-14, but could not convert the three-point play from the free throw line.
The Shockers then took the lead at 18-15 with four straight points before Jay Tunnell tied the game at 18-18 with a three pointer from the top of the key with four and half minutes left till halftime. ISU was next to score when Isiah Martin made an aggressive drive to the basket and got two free throws from the play. Clevin Hannah answered the Martin free-throws with a jumper of his own before Martin and Marshall added back-to-back layups to put ISU up 24-20.
WSU clawed back to within one point at 24-23, but Marshall finished off a fast break layup on a stellar pass from Reed to take a three point lead into the locker room at halftime at 26-23.
Coming out of the break, Indiana State scored the first four points of the half on a gliding layup by Marshall and jumper by Tunnell to extend the Sycamore lead to seven points at 30-23. Wichita State would then score the next eight points to take a 31-30 lead at the 15:40 mark of the second half.
Tunnell made a short jumper in the lane to regain the lead for the Sycamores at 32-31 and Jordan Printy nailed a three-pointer to put ISU up by four at 35-31. Wichita State would then go on a 17-6 run to take a seven point lead at 48-41 with 7:52 remaining on the clock. Neither team scored a point till the 5:12 mark when Wichita State's Aaron Ellis converted two free throws and Marshall answered with two of his own to make the score 50-43 with 4:53 left in the game.
Hannah answered with a jumper on the baseline and Hawkins made one of his own to put the Shocker up 54-43, before Martin made a layup to stop the Wichita State momentum and cut the lead to 54-45. Reed then would capitalize off of an Indiana State offensive rebound by sinking a three pointer to bring ISU within six at 54-48 with a little less than three minutes remaining in the game.
After Hannah only made one of two free throw attempts, Printy would draw a foul from Hannah and converted both of his free throws to make the score 55-50 with 2:36 left in the game. The two teams traded points over the next minute and a half, before Marshall made a layup to cut the lead to 60-56 with 1:26 remaining. ISU got the ball back on a turnover by Hannah and Carter had a wide-open look from three-point range but the shot did not fall. Ramon Clemente corralled the rebound, was fouled and hit one of two free throws to make the score 61-56.
Marshall hit another jumper to cut the lead to three at 61-58 with just over a minute remaining, but that would be as close as the Sycamores would get as the Shockers held on for a 64-58 victory. Marshall was the only Sycamore in double digits, as he finished with a game-high 18 points. Reed also had a solid game with eight points, three assists and five steals.
Indiana State returns to action on Sunday, when the team travels to Normal, Ill., to face the Illinois State Redbirds. Tip off is set for 7:05 p.m. EST on Doug Collins Court at Redbird Arena, with game being televised live nationally on ESPNU.
