Blaine Kinsey
GoSycamores.com
TERRE HAUTE, Ind. -- The Sycamore men's basketball team got ahead early and never looked back as it blew past DePaul University 73-51 Wednesday at Hulman Center.
ISU improved to 4-5 on the season while the Blue Demons fell to 3-5. The Sycamores earned their first victory over DePaul since the 1979 Final Four in which ISU advanced to the NCAA Championship Game against Michigan State. Indiana State has now won each of their last seven home games.
ISU's 23-point victory over DePaul was its largest against a team from a BCS conference since an 89-70 home court victory over Purdue in 2006. ISU last victory over a BCS Conference member that was larger was a 91-63 win over Purdue in 1977. The win was ISU's first over a current member of the BIG EAST since a 84-63 victory over Cincinnati in 1983.
Senior guard Jake Kelly got the Sycamore offense on the board first with a 3-pointer and the team never looked back. The Sycamores built a 6-0 lead before the Blue Demons finally got on the board with a basket.
The Blue Demons then tried to close the gap as they cut the Sycamore lead to two at 6-4, however, the Sycamores went on a 26-10 run to end the half.
At halftime the Sycamores held a comfortable 32-14 lead, one which they would never give up.
As a team the Sycamores shot 44 percent from the field and held the Blue Demons to a mere 22 percent.
In the second half, the Sycamores picked up right where they left off in the first half. They continued to extend their lead and with just over 14 minutes remaining the lead reached as much as 27 before the Blue Demons began to make a run.
With just under seven minutes to go, the Blue Demons cut the Sycamore lead to 19 at 58-39. The Sycamores responded, however, and went on an 11-0 run to take a 69-39 lead, the largest of the night.
The Sycamore lead never dropped below 20 for the rest of the game as the Sycamores went on to win by a final score of 73-51.
Junior guard Dwayne Lathan was the only Sycamore to reach double figures as he had a season-best 24 points, six rebounds, five rebounds, two steals and two blocks.
Junior forward Carl Richard led the team with 10 rebounds and nine points.
As a team the Sycamores shot 57 percent in the second half and 50 percent for the game.
The Sycamores also made their presence known in the paint as 42 of their 73 points came in the paint. The Sycamores also out hustled the Sycamores grabbing 39 rebounds and scoring 21 points off turnovers.
The Sycamores will continue the two game home stand Sunday when they play host to Oakland City following the conclusion of the Sycamores' women's basketball 1 p.m. game against USC-Upstate at approximately 3:30 p.m.
