SETTING THE STAGE
Indiana State enters the Arch Madness portion of year one of the Greg Lansing era on Friday night, March 4, when the Sycamores take on Evansville inside the Scottrade Center. Tip-off is set for 9:35 p.m. (ET). The game can be seen live on FSN Indiana (complete statewide clearance information available on page 2 of this release) with Dan McLaughlin, Rich Zvosec, Tom Ackerman and Scott Warmann on the call. The game will also be broadcast live locally on the radio via ESPN Radio 92.7 FM & 1300 AM, as Brian Fritz and Matt Renn describe the action with an internet broadcast available on GoSycamores.com. For those in the St. Louis area or in the arena, the Valley will once again provide a neutral radio voice as the game will be broadcast live on ESPN 101 FM with Bob Ramsey and Scott Highmark on the call. Additionally live stats for the contest can be found at GoSycamores.com.

THE EVANSVILLE SERIES
Indiana State leads the all-time series against the Purple Aces by the count of 77-76, with Friday evening's contest being the 154th meeting in the all-time series, which is the most times the Sycamores have faced an opponent in the history of the program. The Purple Aces took down the Sycamores twice this year, marking the sixth consecutive season in which either one of the two schools has swept the season series. ISU and Evansville last met during the State Farm MVC Tournament on March 5, 2004 with the Sycamores falling 63-59 in the No. 8 vs. No. 9 contest. That is the only previous meeting between the two schools in the conference tournament.

THE HEAD COACHES
INDIANA STATE: Greg Lansing (South Dakota, '90)
- at Indiana State: 17-13 (First Season)
- Overall: 17-13 (First Season)
- vs. Evansville: 0-2
- vs. Missouri Valley Conference: 12-6
- in the State Farm MVC Tournament: 0-0
EVANSVILLE: Marty Simmons (Evansville, '87)
- Overall: 148-143 (10th Season)
- at Evansville: 50-70 (Fourth Season)
- vs. Indiana State: 4-4
- in the State Farm MVC Tournament: 0-3

QUICK HITS
- Indiana State's No. 3 seeding at the State Farm MVC Tournament is its highest since earning the No. 1 seed during the 2000 event.
- Indiana State is the No. 3 seed at Arch Madness for just the time since the 1978 tournament. In 1978, the Sycamores rode the No. 3 seed to the championship contest, falling to No. 1 Creighton in the finals by the score of 54-52.
- The Sycamores need a victory on Friday over Evansville to advance to the Arch Madness semifinals for the first time since the 2001 tournament. ISU has reached the MVC Semifinals a total of just four times (1978, 1979, 2000 & 2001).
- Indiana State has won a total of seven games by five points or less this season, upping their total of close victories to 33 since 2005.
- The Sycamores have won 87% of the time this season (7-1) after recording 8 or more steals.
- ISU has won 100% of the time this season (12-0) when opponents record 63 or fewer total points.
- Indiana State has won 100% of the time this season (6-0) when its had a field goal percentage of 48.9% or better.
- The Sycamores have out-shot their opponents in field goal percentage for the past 7 games.
- ISU has won 83% of the time this season (5-1) after holding an opponent to under 36.2% field goal percentage.

An Indiana State Win Over Evansville Would ...
• Give Indiana State just its fifth-ever berth into the State Farm Missouri Valley Conference Tournament semifinals, and its first since the 2001 event when the Sycamores won the championship over Bradley as the No. 5 seed.
• Give Indiana State its first-ever victory over Evansville in the State Farm MVC Tournament (just one previous meeting came in the opening round of the 2004 event).
• Give Indiana State a total of 18 victories this season, its most since the 2000-01 campaign when the Trees won 22 games, including all of three contests at Arch Madness.

The Indiana State Head Coach
Indiana State head coach Greg Lansing (South Dakota, 1990) is 17-13 (.567) overall in his first season as a head coach. He is 12-6 all-time in MVC games, including a 7-2 mark at home and a 5-4 mark on the road. During his career, he is 10-3 in all home games, 6-8 on the road, 1-2 in neutral court contests and 7-3 in games decided by five points or less. Lansing is 0-2 all-time against Evansville, including a 0-0 record versus the Purple Aces in the State Farm MVC Tournament. With the Trees, Lansing is 0-2 in overtime games and 12-0 when holding teams to 63 points or less. Saturday's game is Greg Lansing's 30th as Indiana State head coach.

Television Particulars
Friday evening's game will be televised as part of the Missouri Valley Conference's Television package on Fox Sports Indiana. Here are the clearances and channel listings to find the contest over the air. Fox Sports Midwest -- Live at 9:30 p.m. Eastern; Fox Sports Indiana -- Cannot clear due to contractual obligations to Indiana Pacers, but Fox Sports will permit alternate clearances on Time-Warner Cable in Terre Haute (Channel 13), Time-Warner Newburgh (Channel 23), Avenue-Vincennes (Channel 24), WOW in Evansville (Channel 7) and Insight Media in Evansville (Channel 2), Bright House Indianapolis (Channel 81) and Comcast in Indianapolis (Channels 81, 692, 693 or 694); Fox Sports Kansas City -- Live at 9:30 p.m. Eastern; Comcast SportsNet Chicago -- Tape-delay at 1:30 a.m. Eastern on March 5; DirecTV -- Live at 9:30 p.m. Eastern on channel 671; Dish Network -- Live at 9:30 p.m. Eastern on channel 418; AT&T U-Verse -- Live at 9:30 p.m. Eastern on channel 748.

A Little History
Indiana State is currently in its 115th season of college basketball at the school. The Sycamores are 1,365-1,179 all-time on the hardwood. Indiana State's game at Oral Roberts this season was the historic 2,500th game in the history of the program.

Sycamores Earn No. 3 Seed At Valley Tourney; To Open Play Against Evansville
Indiana State clinched the No. 3 seed at the State Farm Missouri Valley Conference Tournament with its win at Northern Iowa on Feb. 22 and are set to play the No. 6 seed Evansville in the quarterfinals. The game is slated to tip-off at 9:35 p.m. (ET) inside the Scottrade Center in St. Louis. The Sycamores' No. 3 seed is its highest since taking the No. 1 seed into the 2000 MVC Tournament after winning the Valley's regular season championship.

Indiana State Earns Five MVC Season Series Sweeps This Season For First Time Since 1999-00
The Indiana State basketball program earned its fifth MVC season series sweep over an opponent this season by downing Southern Illinois on Feb. 26 as part of Senior Day. The Sycamores' five MVC season series sweeps is the most for an Indiana State basketball team since the 1999-00 campaign when the Trees won the Valley's regular season championship. ISU earned sweeps this season over Bradley (first since 1997-98); Northern Iowa (first since 1999-00); Southern Illinois (first since 1980-81); Illinois State (first since 2008-09) and Drake (second consecutive season series sweep).

Indiana State Achieves Fourth 12-Win Valley Campaign
The Sycamores have amassed a total of 12 MVC victories for the first time since the 1999-00 campaign, and just the fourth time since joining the league. Additionally the Sycamores have achieved back-to-back .500 or better conference campaigns for the first time since ISU posted three in a row (1998-99, 1999-00 & 2000-01). In 1999-00, which is the last time the Trees won at least 12 regular season MVC contests, Indiana State won the conference's regular season title. Indiana State has won at least 10 MVC contests in a single season just eight times since joining the conference in 1977-78 (a total of 33 seasons).

Odum And Richard Honored In Missouri Valley Conference Postseason Voting
Indiana State redshirt freshman Jake Odum and Carl Richard have been named to the All-Missouri Valley Conference Honorable Mention squad, which is the first all-conference honor for either Sycamore. Additionally, Odum was named to the all-freshman, all-newcomer and all-defensive teams. Odum is the first Sycamore to earn MVC All-Newcomer status since Amani Daanish following the 2003-04 season. Isiah Martin is the last Sycamore to earn MVC All-Freshman plaudits as he did so following the 2007-08 campaign. Harry Marshall was named to the MVC All-Defensive team one year ago.

Jordan Printy Named To The MVC All-Bench Squad
Indiana State junior guard Jordan Printy has been named to the Missouri Valley Conference's All-Bench squad as announced by the league office. The all-bench team is selected by a poll of the league's beat writers. Printy earned his first career MVC All-Bench Award for the Sycamores in a season in which the Sycamores have earned a No. 3 seed at this weekend's State Farm Missouri Valley Conference Tournament. He battled an early season injury to come on and post 6.0 points this season, including an average of 5.2 points per game in MVC contests. Printy has hit 44-of-94 3-point field goals for a 46.8 percent mark which ranks as the best in the Valley this season. He has hit 1.8 treys per game, which is the eighth-most in the MVC rankings. In MVC games only, his 46.7 3-point field goal percentage mark is fourth in the league while his 1.6 treys per game is tied for ninth. Printy drained a trio of 3-pointers in back-to-back contests against Illinois State and Northern Iowa, posting 11 points against the Panthers. He went on to score a season-high 17 points at Northern Iowa, hitting five 3-pointers in the contest that wrapped up ISU's No. 3 seed at Arch Madness. He is the first Sycamore to earn MVC All-Bench recognition since Isiah Martin did it following the 2007-08 campaign as a freshman.

Printy Moving Up Indiana State 3-Point List
Indiana State junior Jordan Printy currently has 144 career 3-pointers and has recently passed Greg Thomas for fifth on the ISU all-time list. Printy is one of just 14 Sycamores in the history of the program to hit at least 100 3-point field goals in a career. Printy needs five more to tie Chad Adkins for fourth on the ISU all-time 3-point list with 149.

Good Starter On The Battery
Indiana State is 11-2 this season when the Sycamores starting five outscores the opponent's starting five in a contest. ISU starters have bested their counterparts against UT-Pan American, Buffalo, DePaul, Oak land City, the home contest versus Bradley, Illinois State, Northern Iowa, at Drake, against Creighton, at Illinois State and in the regular season finale against Southern Illinois. The Sycamores' two losses this season when the starters out-score the opponents starters came in a triple overtime defeat at Wichita State and also the home court loss to the Shockers.

63 Is The Magic Number
Indiana State is a perfect 12-0 on the season when allowing less than 63 points to the opposition (including a 6-0 mark when holding teams to 53 or less). ISU's best defensive effort this season that was not rewarded with a victory came on the opening weekend when 64 points allowed in overtime against Eastern Kentucky and another 64 point defensive showing at Evansville. The Trees have held each of their last five opponents below the magic number of 63.

Odum More Than "O.K." For ISU As A Freshman
Redshirt freshman Jake Odum has been more than just OK for the Sycamores this season as he is averaging 9.1 points per game so far. Additionally, he is leading the team with 123 assists and 52 steals. His 4.1 assists per game average is second in the MVC and is the best of any newcomer in the league so far this season while his 1.9 assist to turnover ratio is third in the league and is also the best mark of any Valley newcomer. Odum's 1.7 steals per game average is ranked first in the Missouri Valley Conference. In league games only, Odum's 4.8 assists is first in the league and his 2.1 steals per game are tops in the league. Odum set a new career high with nine assists (against just one turnover) in the 61-59 victory over Creighton. He also scored a career-best 22 points at Creighton.

Isiah Martin Ranks Highly For Career Blocked Shots
Indiana State junior Isiah Martin now has 133 blocked shots in his career following his posting of three against Drake. His current total of 133 blocks ranks second all-time in the history of the program as he recently passed Djabril Kante for second (127). The Indiana State school record is 168, set by DeCarsta Webster from 1975-78. Martin needs 35 more to catch Webster for first place. For the season, Martin is averaging 1.0 blocked shots per game and is one of two Sycamores to rank in the Valley's Top 5. Myles Walker's 0.9 blocks per game average is tied for fifth in the league while Martin's 1.0 is third. As a team, Indiana State is averaging 4.3 blocked shots per game which is the best in the league. ISU had a season-best 10 blocked shots against Bradley, it most since recording 11 against Evansville during the 2008-09 campaign.

King Of The Four-Point Play
Indiana State senior Aaron Carter has become known as the "King of the 4-Point Play" in Sycamores circles. For the most part, converting a 4-point play is extremely rare, but for Carter it is becoming old hat. Carter has converted a 4-point play, defined as being fouled in the act of shooting a successful 3-point field goal and then converting the free throw, seven times in his Sycamore career, including one against Purdue earlier this season which gave the Trees a brief 31-29 lead just before halftime. Carter posted a pair as a sophomore and had four last year, including one with 3:42 to play in the first half against Drake. Carter converted two in one game last season at Missouri State as part of a 24-point second half comeback for Indiana State. During his career, Carter has been fouled in act of shooting a 3-pointer a total of 16 times.

Prince Of Wales Of The Four-Point Play
Indiana State redshirt freshman RJ Mahurin may not be the Sycamores' King Of The Four-Point Play, but he is currently can be considered the Prince Of Wales. Mahurin has posted two 4-point plays this season, one each in ISU's last two games against Drake and Bradley. His two 4-point plays have each come in the first half of the two contests in which he has been fouled while stepping out for a 3-pointer, has been fouled and has converted the ensuing free throw. Mahurin was fouled on a 3-point attempt against Illinois State, and made all three of his free throws.

Bench Play Key For Sycamores At Northern Iowa
Indiana State got a total of 40 points off the bench as part of its 76-74 victory at Northern Iowa, led by a season-best 17 points from Jordan Printy, who drilled five 3-pointers against the Panthers. RJ Mahurin was also strong off the bench as he tied a career high with 11 points by knocking down a trio of 3-pointers, two of which came in the second half. The Sycamores scored 40 points off the bench while the starting five only posted 36.

Back-To-Back Against Southern Illinois
With its 77-72 victory over Southern Illinois, the Sycamores have achieved consecutive victories over the Salukis for the first time since they won twice in a row during the 1980-81 campaign. That also marks the last time that the Sycamores have earned a regular season series sweep versus the Salukis. ISU downed SIU by the score of 68-65 in the last meeting against the Salukis prior to the victory on February 16. With a victory on Senior Day over Southern Illinois, the Sycamores will have won three in a row over the Salukis for the first time since 1978-80.

Sycamores Get Defensive At Illinois State
Indiana State recorded a Redbird Arena opponent record 16 steals in the 56-46 road victory over Illinois State. It was just one shy of the overall arena record. It was the most steals for the Sycamores since they posted 16 against Drake on March 2, 2006 at the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament.

Carl Richard's Buzzer Beater Against Creighton Featured On ESPN
Richard added 11 points and eight rebounds against Creighton, but saved his best for last as he hauled in a Jake Odum 3-point miss and hit a reverse over the shoulder lay-up as time expired to seal ISU's 61-59 victory over the Jays. The play has been featured this weekend on ESPN SportsCenter (garnering No. 2 status on the popular SportsCenter Top 10 Plays segment and was rated the No. 1 Fantastic Finish Of The Day). His play also was featured on ABC's Winner Bracket Program on Saturday, January 22.

Triple The Pleasure; Triple The Fun
Indiana State's triple overtime contest at Wichita State is believed to be the first in over 2,500 all-time Sycamore basketball contests to reach triple overtime. The Sycamores did play a four overtime contest against Butler on December 27, 1986, falling 95-92 -- which is a school record. The triple overtime contest versus the Shockers is first multiple overtime contest in league play for the Sycamores since taking an 85-84 double overtime victory at Northern Iowa in the 2008-09 conference opener. The game was the second overtime contest of the season for the Sycamores, with the other coming in the season's third game against Eastern Kentucky. Over the last five seasons, Indiana State is 10-6 in overtime contests.

Lotsa Boards
Indiana State recorded 51 rebounds in the triple overtime defeat at Wichita State, which is the most a Sycamore team has hauled in during one contest since tallying 54 caroms against Missouri State on Feb. 13, 1997 at home. The school record is 71 rebounds against Chicago State in December 1976.

Valley Win Streak Reached Six
Indiana State rattled off six consecutive league victories earlier this year which is the most for the Sycamores since they tallied seven in a row during the 1999-00 MVC Championship season. ISU's 7-1 start to league play marked the first time the Trees have began MVC competition with as a good mark through seven games since that same season and is tied for the second-best start in Valley play behind the 1978-79 dream season which saw ISU start 7-0 en route to finishing the year undefeated.

Up Next
The winner of Friday's quarterfinal contest against Evansville will play the winner of the No. 2 Wichita State vs. No. 7 Drake/No. 10 Bradley matchup on Saturday at the Scottrade Center. Tip-off is set for 5:05 p.m. (ET).