Ace Hunt
GoSycamores.com
TERRE HAUTE, Ind. -- Indiana State redshirt freshman Brenton Scott paced the team with 18 points and junior Khristian Smith tallied a double-double but the visiting UMKC Kangaroos came away with a 73-70 double overtime victory against the Sycamores inside Hulman Center.
Indiana State fell to 4-8 as they enter Missouri Valley Conference play while Kansas City improved to 5-9.
Scott hit a pair of 3-pointers and was a perfect 6-of-6 from the free throw line to go with six rebounds and six assists as he played 39 minutes in the contest. Smith posted his first double-double of the season with 10 points and 10 rebounds to go with six assists while Devonte Brown was also in double figures scoring with 12 points.
The Sycamores recorded 18 assists on 21 field goals in the contest and added seven blocked shots, paced by four from Justin Gant. Indiana State hit 11-of-19 shots in the first half (57.9 percent), but finished with a 38.9 shooting percentage (21-of-54) for the game.
It was the first multiple overtime game for the Sycamores since a three overtime contest at Wichita State in January of 2011.
UMKC opened the game with a basket before T.J. Bell answered to even the score at 2, less than a minute in. After a Harrison 3-pointer cut the Sycamore lead down to two points, the Sycamores got back-to-back baskets from Gant and Scott to stretch the advantage out to 18-11 with 8:37 remaining in the first half.
Smith's 3-pointer with at the 6:18 mark made it 23-15, but Frank Williams countered with his own long range bucket to cut the Sycamore lead down to just five. ISU answered with a 3-pointer by Tre' Bennett and then a fastbreak lay-up from Alex Etherington for the 28-18 lead with 4:49 on the clock.
UMKC answered with 11 consecutive points to take a brief 29-28 lead with 1:39 remaining. Devonte Brown's free throw with 1:03 on the clock tied the score at 29 and that is how the two teams went into the break.
Brown hit a 3-pointer out of halftime for a 32-29 lead and Bell followed with a charity toss and ISU led 33-29 with 18:54 left in regulation. The Kangaroos scored five in a row to take a one point lead, but Brown hit another trey for the 36-34 lead. After UMKC got the Sycamore cushion down to one point, Scott drained a triple with 13:33 remaining for a 39-35 lead.
UMKC scored six in a row for a 41-39 lead before Brown evened the score with a pair of free throws as the 10 minute mark approached. The two teams went back and forth as two Scott free throws at the 8:39 mark tied the game for the sixth time. Grant Prusator hit a 3-pointer with 7:47 left as ISU owned a 46-43 lead with 7:47 to play.
Williams would hit a lay-up for UMKC, but Gant countered with a trifecta for a 49-45 lead with 5:42 remaining before Harrison scored five points in a row and UMKC volleyed back in front 50-49 as the clock ticked towards three minutes remaining.
Scott's 3-pointer at the 3:05 mark put ISU ahead 52-50 and the lead grew to four points 30 seconds later on a pair of Smith charity tosses. Harrison again drained a 3-pointer to answer and draw the 'Roos within a point. Brown hit a driving lay-up with 1:03 remaining for a 56-53 lead, but Harrison provided the seventh tie at 56-56 as he hit a 3-pointer with 13 seconds remaining. Brown would miss a lay-up with two seconds left to send the game into overtime.
Darius Austin hit 1-of-2 free throws in overtime and then Harrison added a lay-up with 2:38 remaining as UMKC held a 59-56 lead. Bell converted a free throw attempt to trim the Kangaroo lead down to 59-57, but Harrison tallied another 3-pointer and UMKC held a 62-57 advantage with 1:50 on the clock. Bennett would find Smith open for a 3-pointer 13 seconds later and ISU drew within 62-60. After a block by Brown on defense, Scott was fouled on his way to the basket and hit both free throws to knot the score at 62. The Sycamores got a defensive stop and held for the final shot in overtime. Smith's jumper in the paint would not rattle home to send the game into a second overtime.
UMKC scored the first four points of the second extra period before Bennett's lay-up with 1:55 left made it 66-64. Harrison answered with his own lay-up by Scott hit a pair of charity tosses to make it 68-66. After Harrison gave Kansas City a 70-66 lead, Prusator hit a 3-pointer with 12 seconds remaining to draw ISU within 70-69.
After Deshon Taylor hit a pair of free throws with nine seconds left, Brown hit 1-of-2 free throws to make it 72-70 with four seconds to go. Noah Knight hit one free throw with three seconds on the clock for a 73-70 lead and Smith's half court heave was off to the left and the Kangaroos walked away with the double overtime victory.
Martez Harrison scored 34 points as he one of three Kangaroos to reach double figures scoring.
Indiana State begins Missouri Valley Conference play on Wednesday, December 31 when they travel to Illinois State. Tip-off is set for 4:00 p.m. (ET) and will be televised nationally on Comcast SportsNet Chicago as well as ESPN3.
