Ace Hunt
GoSycamores.com
NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y. -- Despite producing a season-high offensive output and 24 points from Khristian Smith, Indiana State fell 91-84 to Iona in front of 1,681 fans inside the Hynes Center.
The Sycamores fell to 3-6 while Iona improved to 6-3. It was the final game for the Sycamores as part of the Bracketbuster scheduling concept.
Smith led the way with 24 points (also paced the team in rebounds with eight) and was one of four Sycamores to reach double figures scoring. Brenton Scott came off the bench to score 16 to go with six rebounds. Devonte Brown added 15 points while Justin Gant tallied 10. The Sycamores owned a 36-33 edge on the glass as well a 33-6 advantage in bench scoring.
The Sycamores blazed the nets in the first half to the tune of a 63.6 shooting percentage en route to a 48-42 lead at the intermission. Indiana State's defense held the nation's leading scorer, A.J. English to eight points.
Justin Gant scored first for the Sycamores with a jumper 38 seconds into the game. Khristian Smith added a lay-up for the quick 4-0 advantage before Iona broke through a free throw at the 18:02 mark. The Gaels would take a momentary lead at 5-4 before Smith broke the press for a dunk as the Sycamores battled back ahead. Alex Etherington's 3-pointer from the corner pushed Indiana State ahead 13-9 with 14:07 remaining before the break.
Tied at 15, the Sycamores scored 11 points in a row which began with a Brenton Scott jumper and concluded with Gant's second chance tip-in at the 11:09 mark to push the Indiana State lead out to 26-15. Iona was able to cut the Sycamore advantage down to 33-27 with 7:07 on the clock, but Indiana State responded with a Smith 3-pointer for the 36-27 cushion.
Tre' Bennett's long defensive rebound and fast break lay-up with 3:35 remaining before the half capped an 8-0 run and staked the Sycamores to a 44-29 lead. Smith converted a driving lay-up with just over one minute left in the first half for a 48-36 advantage. Iona would score the final six points before the half as the Sycamores held a 48-42 lead and Smith owned a team-high 11 points.
The two teams traded early second half scores as a pair of Devonte Brown free throws just over a minute in to give ISU a 50-44 lead. Iona would take a two-point lead with eight consecutive points before Khristian Smith pulled up with a big jumper to level the score at 56. Alex Etherington also hit a big 3-pointer as the clock ticked under 10 minutes remaining to even the game up at 64.
After the two teams traded free throws, Brenton Scott hit a 3-pointer at the 8:33 mark for a 69-68 Sycamore lead. Iona would score four in a row after the game was tied at 70, but Bennett answered with a steal and fast break lay-up to level the score at 74 with just over five minutes remaining.
Khristian Smith hit a long jumper at the 4:35 mark which answered an Iona heave at the death of the shot clock to draw within 77-76 of the Gaels. Iona gained its largest lead of the game with four points in a row for a 81-76 advantage. After an inside bucket by the Gaels, Devonte Brown drilled a long 3-pointer with 1:45 remaining to draw within 83-79. Iona's Laury would score again inside, but Brenton Scott hit a trifecta to cut the the Gael's lead down to 85-82 with one minute left to go.
Laury was fouled with 39.6 seconds left and hit both free throws before the Sycamores had a good look at the open 3-pointer. Instead, the Gaels got the rebound and two more charity tosses for an 89-82 advantage.
Indiana State returns home for three games over the Holidays to close out non-conference play. The home stand begins on Tuesday, December 16 when they host Truman State inside Hulman Center at 7:05 p.m. (ET).
