INDIANA STATE AT DRAKE
Knapp Center (7,152), Des Moines, Iowa
January 17, 2015, 3:05 p.m. (ET)
SETTING THE STAGE
The Indiana State Sycamores continue the Missouri Valley Conference slate as they begin a two-game Valley road swing on Saturday, January 17 against Drake inside the Knapp Center. The game is set for a 3:05 p.m. (ET) tip-off and can be heard locally on 95.9 FM The Duke as well as online via a link on GoSycamores.com. This is the 119th season of intercollegiate basketball at Indiana State University. The game will be televised online via a web stream on Bulldog Vision, located at GoDrakeBulldogs.com. The game can be seen locally in Iowa on Mediacom MC22. The Sycamores are 9-8, 5-0 MVC and are riding a season-best five game winning streak. Drake is 3-14, 0-5 MVC.
QUICK HITS
- Indiana State has made five consecutive trips to the postseason (2010 CBI, 2011 NCAA, 2012 CIT, 2013 & 2014 NIT), which is a new school record.
- The Sycamores have put together four consecutive seasons of 18 or more victories which is a new school record. Indiana State advanced to the 2014 MVC Tournament Championship where they fell to No. 1 Wichita State.
- Indiana State is 59-5 when holding teams to 63 points or less under fifth-year head coach Greg Lansing (and 16-0 when limiting teams to 53 or less).
- Indiana State has earned 59 close victories (five points or less) since 2005. Under Greg Lansing, the Sycamores are 33-15 in close games.
- Indiana State head coach Greg Lansing owns four victories over nationally-ranked teams during his tenure, which is tied for the school record with Bill Hodges.
- Devonte Brown scored a career-high 22 points, including 19 in the second half and 10 of the Sycamores' final 13 in the 59-56 road win over SIU. Brown is the reigning MVC Player Of The Week.
- Tre' Bennett came off the bench to lead the Sycamores with 15 points in the MVC opening victory over Illinois State on New Year's Eve. He followed that up with another 15-point performance as the Sycamores earned a 79-75 overtime victory against Evansville on January 4. He scored the game winning bucket with 2.1 seconds remaining on Wednesday night against Illinois State.
- Justin Gant tallied a career-high 24 points as he hit 9-of-13 field goals to pace the Sycamores to a 71-56 win over Missouri State on January 7. He is the reigning MVC Scholar-Athlete Of The Week.
An Indiana State Win Over Drake Would ...
• Improve the Sycamores' record in fifth-year head coach Greg Lansing's hometown of Des Moines to 3-2.
• Improve the Sycamores to 6-0 in MVC play for just the second time since joining the league prior to the 1977-78 campaign. The only time the Sycamores have started 6-0 in the league was during the 1978-79 Dream Season.
• Give the Sycamores their third consecutive win over Drake and their 10th in the last 13 meetings.
The Indiana State Head Coach
Indiana State head coach Greg Lansing (South Dakota, 1990) is 88-63 (.583) overall in his fifth season as a head coach. He is 46-31 all-time in MVC games, including a 30-9 mark at home and a 16-22 record on the road. During his career, he is 49-16 in all home games, 26-35 on the road, 13-11 in neutral court contests and 33-15 in games decided by five points or less. Lansing is 5-3 against Drake and is 2-2 against the Bulldogs on the road. With the Trees, Lansing is 7-5 in overtime games and 59-5 when holding teams to 63 points or less. Lansing has led the Sycamores to the postseason in each of his first four seasons with the Sycamores (2011 NCAA, 2012 CIT, 2013, 2014 NIT). Saturday's game will be Greg Lansing's 152nd as Indiana State head coach. Lansing is the second head coach to lead the Sycamores to the NCAA Tournament in their rookie campaign in the history of the program, with the other being Bill Hodges leading ISU to a 33-1 record and a Final Four appearance in the 1979 NCAA Tournament. Lansing was just the 14th rookie head coach in the history of the MVC to lead his team to 20 victories during their debut season. Against nationally-ranked opponents Lansing holds a 4-11 record, including a 3-5 mark in road contests. He is tied with Bill Hodges for most victories over a nationally-ranked team (four) in the history of the program.
Television Particulars
The Drake game will be shown live via a web stream on GoBulldogs.com and Bulldog Vision. This is a pay-per-view broadcast and a subscription is required to access the event. The game will also be shown live locally in Iowa on Mediacom MC22.
A Little History
Indiana State is currently in its 119th season of college basketball at the school. The Sycamores are 1,435-1,231 all-time on the hardwood.
Tre' Bennett's Game Winner Downs Illinois State In Overtime
Indiana State junior guard Tre' Bennett was the hero on January 14 as the Sycamores downed visiting Illinois State 71-70 in overtime. Bennett scored 12 points in the game, but his last two were most important as he grabbed a loose ball and drove through the lane for a lay-up with 2.1 seconds on the clock in extra time to give the Sycamores a victory. Bennett's game-winner was his 33rd field goal as a Sycamore. Of course 33 is considered a lucky number for Indiana State Basketball as the Legend, Larry Bird, wore that number during his time in Terre Haute and his retired jersey hangs in the rafters of Hulman Center. Bennett's shot backed up a strong effort from senior Jake Kitchell who scored 15 points and pulled down seven rebounds. Redshirt freshman Brenton Scott was solid with 13 points and a perfect night from the 3-point arc (2-of-2) as well as the free throw line (3-of-3).
Devonte Brown Closes Out Salukis And Earns MVC Player Of The Week Nod
Indiana State junior guard Devonte Brown was named the Missouri Valley Conference Player Of The Week for his efforts in the wins over Missouri State and Southern Illinois. Brown averaged 19.0 points, 3.0 assists and 2.5 rebounds over the two-game stretch. For the week, Brown found his shooting stroke as he went 14-of-19 from the field (73.7 percent) as well as 4-of-5 from 3-point range. The week started for Brown with 16 points as he went 7-of-10 from the field, including one 3-pointer in the 71-56 victory over the Bears. He then went on to score three points in the first half at SIU and the Sycamores found themselves down by 11 points at the half. After falling behind by as many as 14 after the break, Brown scored 19 points in the final 15 minutes, including 10 of the team's final 13 as the Sycamores erased the deficit and pulled out a thrilling 59-56 road win over the Salukis. Brown hit 7-of-9 shots from the field and was perfect from 3-point range as all of his makes and attempts from behind the arc came in the final three minutes. His first triple came with 2:40 to go to draw the Sycamores within 52-50. After a defensive stop, Brown popped another with 2:05 remaining to give the Sycamores their first lead of the game at 53-52. SIU then responded with a basket and Justin Gant hit a trifecta for a two-point Sycamore lead. With 11 seconds to go, SIU hit a long jumper to tie the game at 56 before Brown took the ball down the floor without a timeout and hit a 25-foot three-pointer with 2.1 seconds remaining to give the Sycamores the thrilling 59-56 victory.
Justin Gant's Career-High 24 Points Fuels Sycamores To Win Over Missouri State; Earns MVC Scholar-Athlete Of The Week
Indiana State senior forward Justin Gant hit 9-of-13 shots from the field in scoring a career-high 24 points as the Sycamores earned a 71-56 victory over Missouri State on January 7. For his efforts, Gant, who owns a 3.30 GPA in Criminology, was named the MVC Scholar-Athlete Of The Week. Indiana State used a 12-0 run to start the game and then scored 10 in a row midway through the second half to earn the 15 point victory. The Sycamores have trended in the correct direction on defense lately as they have held three of their last four opponents to a 40 percent shooting percentage or lower.
Indiana State Off To Just Fourth 5-0 Start In MVC Play
Indiana State is off to its second consecutive 5-0 start to Missouri Valley Conference play and are currently tied with the defending champion Wichita State for first place through the first two and a half weeks. The Sycamores have downed Illinois State and Southern Illinois on the road as well as Missouri State, Evansville and the Redbirds at home. Indiana State is 5-0 for only the fourth time since the 1977-78 campaign when the program joined the MVC, with two of those perfect starts coming under fifth-year head coach Greg Lansing. Coach Lansing now owns 46 victories in MVC play to rank second in program history to only Royce Waltman's 69. Indiana State has had the chance to improve to 6-0 just four times (including Saturday at Drake) since joining the league and accomplished it once on January 20, 1979 at Creighton. In 1977-78, the Sycamores fell at Southern Illinois and last season No. 5 Wichita State was the victor at Charles Koch Arena.
Khristian Smith Hits Jumper With 5.8 Seconds Left To Down Illinois State In Valley Opener
Indiana State junior Khristian Smith scored eight points in the MVC opener at Illinois State, but his final counted the most as he hit a jumper in the paint with 5.8 seconds on the clock to secure a 63-61 road victory over the Redbirds. Tre' Bennett came off the bench to score 15 points to pace the Sycamores to the win.
63 Is The Magic Number
The Sycamores win by the score of 59-56 on January 10, 2015 vs. Missouri State was ISU's fourth this season in which they held an opponent to 63 points or less and earned the victory. ISU was 15-1 last season when holding an opponent under that total. Under fifth-year head coach Greg Lansing, the Sycamores are 59-5 when allowing less than 63 points to the opposition (including a 16-0 mark when holding teams to 53 or less).
Good Starter On The Battery
Indiana State is 6-3 this season when the Sycamore starters outscore their counterparts for the opposition. Under fifth-year head coach Greg Lansing, the Sycamores are 52-16 when the ISU starting five scores more than their opponent's starters after doing so in the win over Illinois State.
Sycamores Have Had Success In Bounce Back Games Under Head Coach Greg Lansing
In the last five seasons, the Sycamores have been known as a team with the ability to bounce back from defeat. Since the 2010-11 campaign, the Sycamores are 36-25 (.590) in a game which follows a loss. Indiana State won seven consecutive games following a loss last season. The Sycamores bounced back in the MVC opener against Illinois State from a double overtime defeat at the hands of Missouri-Kansas City on December 28.
Indiana State In Games Against Nationally-Ranked Foes
Indiana State owns 13 victories all-time against nationally-ranked teams, with a school-record tying four of those coming under fifth-year coach Greg Lansing. A 76-57 victory over No. 13 Creighton on Feb. 6, 2013 marks the last win for Indiana State against a nationally-ranked foe inside Hulman Center. ISU also defeated No. 21 Notre Dame on the road on November 17, 2013.
Sycamore Success Against “Power 6” Teams Under Greg Lansing
With its 83-70 victory over Notre Dame last season, the Sycamores have won back-to-back games against the Atlantic Coast Conference as ISU downed Miami (Fla.) on December 25, 2012 as part of the Hawaiian Airlines Diamond Classic. Under fifth-year head coach Greg Lansing, the Sycamores are 5-7 against teams from “Power 6” Conferences, and all 12 of those contests have either come on the road or on a neutral court.
Sycamore Success Inside Hulman Center Under Greg Lansing
The Sycamores are 49-16 (.754) inside Hulman Center under fifth-year head coach Greg Lansing. The Sycamores have won 39 of their last 51 home games. Additionally, the Sycamores have won 30 of their last 39 MVC games at home. The Sycamores finished 11-2 at home last season and are 6-4 (including 3-0 in MVC play) so far in 2014-15.
Indiana State Picked Sixth In Missouri Valley Conference Race
The Indiana State basketball team has been picked to finish sixth in the Missouri Valley Conference race as announced on October 28 by the league office as part of its annual MVC Basketball Tipoff festivities held at Palladium St. Louis. The league preseason poll is conducted by a vote of the league's head coaches, sports information directors and a media panel. The Sycamores finished second last season in the MVC race with an overall record of 23-11 and a 12-6 mark in league play. Indiana State garnered 219 points to be picked sixth from the 46-person voting panel. The prediction includes the Sycamores finishing ahead of Southern Illinois (191 points), Bradley (140 points), Drake (92 points) and Loyola (91 points). Defending league champion Wichita State was picked to win the league with 45 first place votes and 459 points. Northern Iowa was second with a total of 411 points. Missouri State was third (338 points), Evansville fourth (300 points) and Illinois State was sixth with one first place vote (287 points).
Sycamores Make Fifth Consecutive Trip To The Postseason
With Indiana State's appearance in the 2014 National Invitation Tournament, the Sycamores have now made five consecutive trips to postseason play, including two in a row to the NIT. ISU played in the 2010 College Basketball Invitational as well as the 2011 NCAA Tournament in addition to the CIT Tournament in 2012 and the NIT in 2013 and 2014. It marks the first time in the history of the Indiana State basketball program that the Sycamores have reached the postseason in five consecutive seasons. Indiana State is the only team to play in each of the four national postseason tournaments over the past five seasons.
Khristian Smith Named MVC's Sixth Man Of The Year
In an award that has been given in the Missouri Valley Conference since the 1994-95 campaign, Khristian Smith is the first Sycamore to earn the league's Sixth Man Of The Year Award. He is a repeat All-Bench Team selection and also was named to the MVC Most Improved Team. Smith played in all 33 games and earned just five starts while he averaged 10.5 points and 4.3 rebounds per game. He scored a career-high 28 points on the road against Belmont and had 16 double-digit scoring performances, including a MVC-high 27 points on the road against Evansville.
Sycamores Have Reached 18-Victory Mark For School Record Fourth Consecutive Season
Indiana State finished 23-11 last season. The Sycamores with their 23 victories now have four consecutive seasons of 18 or more wins. It marks the first four-year stretch in the 119-year history of the program that the Sycamores have won at least 18 games in four or more seasons in a row. Additionally, the Sycamores locked up their fifth consecutive winning season, the longest such stretch of over .500 seasons since the 1960's.
Sycamores Reach 12 MVC Victories For The Fifth Time; Were The Quickest Team Since 78-79 To 20 Overall
Indiana State won 12 Missouri Valley Conference games last season and that team ranked tied for third place in the 38 seasons of MVC play for most conference victories in a season. Last year's team is just the fifth Sycamore team to ever record at least 12 MVC victories in a single season. The Sycamores have also reached 20 overall wins for the season. The last time the Sycamores reached the 20-win mark was in 2010-11. The Sycamores have reached 20 victories seven times since joining the MVC for the 1976-77 campaign. With the victory over SIU, the Sycamores reached the 20-victory mark at the earliest date (Feb. 15) since the 1978-79 team did it on February 3.
Former Sycamore Jake Odum Enjoyed Busy July In NBA Summer League
Former Indiana State guard Jake Odum, who finished his career first in career made free throws and career free throws attempted, five in points scored, and second in assists as well as steals has graduated. Odum is currently playing professionally in Greece, and has played for both the Indiana Pacers as well as the Sacramento Kings in the NBA Summer League in Orlando and Las Vegas. Former Sycamores Manny Arop and David Moss are also continuing their careers in the professional ranks overseas.
Up Next
Indiana State travels to Northern Iowa on Wednesday, January 21 to take on the Panthers. Tip-off from Cedar Falls, Iowa is set for 8:07 p.m. (ET) and will be televised on the MVC TV Network as well as ESPN3.
