Blaine Kinsey

GoSycamores.com

The Indiana State men's basketball team sent it's seniors out with a win in convincing fashion as they defeated the Salukis of Southern Illinois 75-60 on Senior Day.

The Sycamores got on the board first with a hook shot from junior center Myles Walker.  The Salukis answered back though with a 3-pointer to take a 3-2 lead.

Senior center Isiah Martin then hit a bucket before the Salukis hit another 3-pointer to give the Salukis a 6-4 lead. The Sycamores then responded and never looked back. Freshman point guard Jake Odum hit a floater to tie the game and junior guard Dwayne Lathan hit the next six points to give ISU a 12-6 lead, one they would never give up.

The Sycamores continued to extend their lead to 18-11 with just over 10 minutes remaining in the first half. The Salukis made a run at the Sycamores and eventually tied it a 24 with about four minutes left in the half.

Walker hit a bucket and junior guard Jordan Printy hit a 3-pointer to extend the Sycamore lead and to 29-24. The Sycamores continued to extend their lead over the final minutes and held a 33-26 halftime lead over the Salukis.

The second half was more of the same for the Sycamores as Walker got things going for ISU with a bucket and senior guard Aaron Carter hit a 3-pointer to give ISU a 38-29 lead.

The Sycamores never looked back and continued to pull away from the Salukis as they put three scorers in double figures en route to a 75-60 win on Senior Day at Hulman Center.

This marks the fourth time the Sycamores have reached 12 MVC wins in a season as they finished 12-6 and 17-13 overall. It is also the first time since the 1999-00 season that ISU swept five league opponents in the same season.

As a team the Sycamores shot 53 percent from the floor and out rebounded the Salukis 36-33. The Sycamores also had 14 turnovers to 15 assists.

Lathan led the way for the Sycamores with 20 points, seven rebounds and two assists.

Carter had 13 points in his final game at Hulman Center and also added tour rebounds and two steals. Walker also reached double figures for the Sycamores with 10 points, nine rebounds and two assists.

The Sycamores will now turn their attention to Arch Madness, the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament, where they are the three seed and will play Evansville on Friday at 9:35 p.m. EST.