SETTING THE STAGE
The Indiana State Sycamores continue the 2015-16 campaign on Wednesday, December 16 as they return to the friendly confines of Hulman Center to take on Illinois-Springfield. The game is set for a 7:00 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 game will be broadcast locally on WTWO-TV as well as world-wide on The Valley On ESPN3. The Sycamores are 3-6 on the season and are facing the Prairie Stars for the first time ever. Khristian Smith scored 15 points for the Sycamores in their most recent outing on the road against Western Kentucky. Illinois-Springfield is 4-6 on the season after dropping their most recent game against Kentucky Wesleyan, 84-72. The Prairie Stars are led in scoring by Jamall Millison who is averaging 12.6 points per game.
QUICK HITS
- Indiana State is 66-8 when holding teams to 63 points or less under sixth-year head coach Greg Lansing (and 17-0 when limiting teams to 53 or less).
- Indiana State has earned 60 close victories (five points or less) since 2005. Under Greg Lansing, the Sycamores are 34-17 in close games.
- Greg Lansing needs just three more wins to become just the sixth head coach in the history of the program to record at least 100 victories at the helm of the Sycamores.
- Indiana State is tied for first in the MVC with a field goal percentage defense of .411.
- Brenton Scott has reached double figures scoring a team-best seven times this season and returned to the starting lineup on Sunday at Western Kentucky.
- The Sycamores scored exactly 70 points in each of their first three games of the season, tying the school record for longest stretch of games with the same point total which has stood since 1930.
- 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 and Royce Waltman.
An Indiana State Win Over Illinois-Springfield Would ...
• Improve the Sycamores to a perfect 6-0 against non NCAA Division I opponents under sixth-year head coach Greg Lansing.
• Be the Sycamores' 55th victory inside Hulman Center in the last six years.
• Be sixth-year head coach Greg Lansing's 98th win at Indiana State.
The Indiana State Head Coach
Indiana State head coach Greg Lansing (South Dakota, 1990) is 97-77 (.557) overall in his sixth season as a head coach. He is 52-38 all-time in MVC games, including a 34-11 mark at home and an 18-27 record on the road. During his career, he is 54-20 in all home games, 28-43 on the road, 15-14 in neutral court contests and 34-17 in games decided by five points or less. Lansing is 0-0 against Illinois-Springfield and is 0-0 against the Prairie Stars at home. With the Trees, Lansing is 7-5 in overtime games and 66-8 when holding teams to 63 points or less. Lansing led the Sycamores to the postseason in each of his first four seasons at the helm (2011 NCAA, 2012 CIT, 2013, 2014 NIT). 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. Lansing is tied with Bill Hodges and Royce Waltman for most victories over a nationally-ranked team (four) in the history of the program. Lansing is currently sixth on the Indiana State all-time coaching victories list and needs 23 more to tie John Longfellow for fifth.
Television Particulars
The Illinois-Springfield game will be telecast locally on WTWO-TV. The contest will also be shown live world-wide on The Valley On ESPN3.
A Little History
Indiana State is currently in its 120th season of college basketball at the school. The Sycamores are 1,444-1,244 all-time on the hardwood.
Khristian Smith On The Move Towards 1,000 Career Points
Indiana State senior Khristian Smith currently has 957 career points scored through 107 games in a Sycamore uniform. He needs only 43 more points to become the 36th member of the Indiana State Basketball 1,000 Point Club. Smith would be the 12th member of the club (33 percent) either coached or recruited by current head coach Greg Lansing, the most members that one coach can claim as one of their pupils in the illustrious club.
Brenton Scott Consistent In Scoring Column Versus Valpo And Western Kentucky
Indiana State sophomore guard Brenton Scott averaged 15.0 points and 3.5 rebounds per game against Valparaiso and Western Kentucky. He hit 11-of-24 shots from the field (45.8 percent) and was 5-of-11 (45.5 percent) from long range. He added five assists (against just two turnovers) while adding two steals and one blocked shot. Scott opened the week with 16 points against Valparaiso as he hit a pair of 3-pointers and added four rebounds as well as three assists and one blocked shot. He went on to score 14 at WKU with three rebounds as he hit a trio of 3-pointers and was 3-of-4 from the free throw line. Scott added two assists and two steals against the Hilltoppers.
Matt Van Scyoc Scores 20 Points, Hits 5 3-Pointers Against Valpo
Indiana State junior Matt Van Scyoc posted 11.5 points and 4.0 rebounds per game against Valparaiso and Western Kentucky. He was 6-of-13 from 3-point range (46.2 percent) and added one steal as well as one blocked shot. Van Scyoc scored a season-best 20 points as he was 6-of-11 from the field (54.5 percent) versus Valparaiso and added five 3-pointers in the contest to go with five rebounds and a steal. He hit one 3-pointer with three rebounds and a block at WKU.
Sycamores Finish Third At Paradise Jam; Khristian Smith Named To All-Tourney Team
Indiana State used wins over Norfolk State and Hofstra to claim third place at the toughly-contested Paradise Jam. The Sycamores were represented on the all tournament team by senior Khristian Smith who scored 22 points and pulled down nine rebounds in the finale against Hofstra -- a 67-66 victory. Over the three-game stretch in St. Thomas, the Sycamores were led by Smith who averaged 15.7 points and 6.0 rebounds per game and hit 9-of-10 free throws. Devonte Brown converted a conventional 3-point play with eight seconds remaining to put Indiana State ahead and a late defensive stands earned the win. The Sycamores have now won 2-of-3 games in a multi-team event for the fourth time in the last six years and their third place finish in the Paradise Jam was the program's best since a third place finish at the 2012 Old Spice Classic.
Greg Lansing Just Three Wins Away From No. 100 at Indiana State
Indiana State sixth-year head coach Greg Lansing currently stands sixth all-time in terms of coaching wins for the Sycamores with 97. With only three more, Lansing will have enjoyed 100 triumphs at Indiana State and will be become just the sixth-ever Sycamore head coach to accomplish the milestone.
Indiana State Accepts Invitation To 2016 Advocare Invitational
Indiana State will join a stellar field at the 2016 Advocare Invitational to be held from November 24-27 at the HP Field House on the campus of ESPN Wide World Of Sports inside Walt Disney World near Orlando, Fla. The Sycamores will face a field consisting of Florida, Gonzaga, Iowa State, Miami (Fla.), Quinnipiac, Seton Hall and Stanford in the tournament. The last time the Sycamores participated in this tournament it was dubbed the Old Spice Classic and in 2012, the Sycamores used wins over Texas Tech and Fairfield to capture third place in the event. All of the games in the event will be televised on the ESPN Family of Networks.
Sycamores Down Wyoming To Earn Second Ever MVC/Mountain West Challenge Contest
The Sycamores earned a 70-55 win inside Hulman Center over Wyoming on November 16 to post their second-ever victory in the five-year history of the Missouri Valley/Mountain West Challenge Series. Indiana State also picked up a victory over Colorado State in 2009 in the first year of the event. Devonte Brown scored 15 points and tied a career high with seven rebounds while dishing out seven assists in the win over the Cowboys. The Sycamores limited Wyoming to just 15 first half points which was the fewest allowed in a half since also giving up 15 in the first half against Louisiana-Monroe back in December of 2011. The Sycamores are now 2-3 all-time in the MVC/MWC Challenge.
Greg Lansing Selected For Induction Into Iowa High School Basketball Hall Of Fame
Indiana State head coach Greg Lansing has been selected for induction into the Iowa High School Athletic Association Basketball Hall of Fame as part of their 2016 class. Lansing and the other selected inductees will be honored individually at halftime of the Iowa Class 4A State Championship Game at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines on Saturday, March 12. The IHSAA Basketball Hall of Fame is the highest honor the Iowa High School Board of Control can bestow on a high school coach or former player. Lansing graduated from Harlan High School in 1986, where he was coached by his father Dave, who was inducted into the IHSAA Basketball Hall of Fame in 1999 as a coach. The Lansing father/son combination of Dave and Greg will be just the 10th father/son duo to both be inducted into the Hall of Fame since 1969.
Sycamores Picked Sixth In MVC Preseason Poll, Devonte Brown Preseason All-MVC
The Sycamores are the sixth place preseason selection for the second consecutive year, which proved to be a positive last season. Indiana State exceeded its October prediction to finish 11-7 in the MVC and earned the league's No. 3 seed at the conference tournament behind nationally-ranked Wichita State and Northern Iowa. Brown, who kept alive a streak of nine consecutive seasons with at least one Sycamore on the All-MVC Team last season, is an honorable mention selection on this year's preseason squad. He also was named the MVC's Most Improved Player in 2014-15. The senior from Killeen, Texas was named Second Team All-Missouri Valley Conference and also earned a spot on the NABC All-District Second Team. His 180 free throw attempts led the league and was ranked 43rd nationally, while his 117 free throws made was third in the MVC and 98th nationally.
Jordan Barnes Inks National Letter Of Intent With Sycamore Basketball
On National Signing Day (November 11), the Indiana State Basketball program received a NLI from Jordan Barnes, a 5-11, 155 point guard from St. Louis, Mo., who is a senior at Christian Brothers College High School. He helped his team win Missouri's Division 5 State Championship in 2014. No stranger to the spotlight, Barnes connected on a double-clutch, 3-point buzzer-beat for the St. Louis Eagles, his AAU team last summer in a play which was featured on ESPN SportsCenter's Top 10 plays. As a junior, Barnes averaged 15 points, six assists and two steals per game. He was rewarded for his outstanding play by being named a first team all-conference selection. In addition to his other offensive exploits, Barnes is a 48 percent shooter from 3-point range. Barnes played for head coach Justin Tatum at Christian Brothers.
Sycamores Own Third-Best Record In MVC Play Over Last Five Seasons
In the last five seasons under the direction of head coach Greg Lansing, the Sycamores have amassed a total of 51 Missouri Valley Conference victories. Those 51 MVC wins by coach Lansing are second-most in the history of the program as he trails only Royce Waltman who won 69 league games during his tenure. Additionally, the 51 MVC victories for the Sycamores since the 2010-11 campaign ranks third-best among current conference members. Wichita State's 75 leads the league while Indiana State has 51 and Northern Iowa is second with 56.
Devonte Brown Makes It Eight Years In A Row For Sycamores In All-MVC Voting
Junior guard Devonte Brown took home his first career all-conference honor as he was selected to the All-MVC Second Team following last season. Brown's honor extended a school-record stretch of eight consecutive years in which a Sycamore has been named to one of the All-MVC Teams. That is the third-longest active stretch among the current membership of the MVC. Additionally, Brown finished sixth in the Larry Bird MVC Player Of The Year voting and was named the MVC's Most Improved Player. Brown's 180 free throw attempts led the league and ranked 43rd nationally, while his 117 free throws made was third in the MVC and 98th nationally. He ranked eighth in the league in scoring with a 12.2 ppg average while his 4.6 rebounds per game ranked 15th. He hit 46.7 percent of his shots from the field to rank ninth in the MVC while his 3.2 assists per game ranked fifth. Brown put together an 1.0 assist-to-turnover ratio to rank ninth and his 4.1 defensive rebounds per game ranked fourth in the league. In MVC games, Brown averaged 12.1 ppg to rank eighth in the league and he connected on 47.2 percent of his shots to finish 10th. Brown averaged 3.6 assists per MVC game to rank third while his 1.0 assist to turnover ratio ranked seventh. His 3.6 defensive rebounds per MVC game was seventh-best.
Sycamores Record 25th 20-Plus Point Margin Of Victory In Their Valley History
While any win in the Missouri Valley Conference is tough to come by, a win by 20 or more points is even more rare for the Sycamores. Since Indiana State joined the league for the 1977-78 campaign, Indiana State has earned 25 victories by at least 20 points. The Sycamores' win by 21 points over Drake on Valentine's Day was its first over 20 points since a 2011 victory over Northern Iowa by 25 points. Indiana State added a 20-point win over Southern Illinois on February 21 for its second of the season. Indiana State's 65-44 victory in 1998 at Northern Iowa is the program's only win by at least 20 points against a MVC opponent.
63 Is The Magic Number
The Sycamores win by the score of 70-61 on November 20, 2015 vs. Norfolk State was ISU's second this season in which they held an opponent to 63 points or less and earned the victory. Under sixth-year head coach Greg Lansing, the Sycamores are 66-8 when allowing less than 63 points to the opposition (including a 17-0 mark when holding teams to 53 or less).
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 44-30 (.595) in a game which follows a loss.
Good Starter On The Battery
Indiana State's starting five has outscored the opposition's top five in all three games so far this season. Under sixth-year head coach Greg Lansing, the Sycamores are 59-19 when the ISU starting five scores more than their opponent's starters after doing so in the win over Wyoming.
Sycamore Success Against “Power 6” Teams Under Greg Lansing
With its 83-70 victory over Notre Dame two years ago, 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 54-20 (.730) inside Hulman Center under fifth-year head coach Greg Lansing. The Sycamores have won 44 of their last 60 home games. Additionally, the Sycamores have won 34 of their last 45 MVC games at home. The Sycamores downed Wyoming by the score of 70-55 on November 15 and are 1-2 at home this season.
Up Next
Indiana State takes a road trip to Saint Louis on Saturday, December 19 to take on the Billikens beginning at 8:00 p.m. (ET). The game will air live on Fox Sports Midwest.
