Ace Hunt
GoSycamores.com
SETTING THE STAGE
Indiana State Basketball begins the season this Friday, November 11 at 8 p.m. (ET) on the road against Northern Illinois. The Sycamores reached the semifinals of Arch Madness for the fourth time in the last six years at the end of last year while Northern Illinois was 21-13 and the Huskies were picked to finish third this season in the Mid-American Conference West Division. NIU is led by senior Marin Maric who averaged 11.9 points and 8.4 rebounds per game last season.
QUICK HITS
- Indiana State is 74-9 when holding teams to 63 points or less under seventh-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 34-19 in close games.
- Greg Lansing is just the sixth head coach in the history of the program to record at least 100 victories at the helm of the Sycamores. He needs 11 more to tie John Longfellow for fifth on the ISU all-time victories list.
- Sophomore Brenton Scott owns 135 trifectas in his career which is sixth-best in the history of the program.
- Junior Matt Van Scyoc has scored over 1,000 career collegiate points as he tallied 807 in two prior seasons at The Citadel plus 248 last season with the Sycamores. He now has 1,055 career points scored during his three seasons with the two institutions.
- The Sycamores have enjoyed nine different winning streaks of at least four games under coach Lansing, including a four gamer in early January of 2016.
- 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.
- The Sycamores own a 49-36 record in “bounce-back” games under sixth-year head coach Greg Lansing following a loss.
An Indiana State Win Over Northern Illinois Would ...
• Improve the Sycamores to 78-43 all-time in season opening games
• Give the Sycamores victories in five of their last seven season openers.
• Be the Sycamores' second season opening victory on the road in a row after a win at IUPUI to open the 2014-15 campaign.
The Indiana State Head Coach
Indiana State head coach Greg Lansing (South Dakota, 1990) is 109-88 (.553) overall in his seventh season as a head coach. He is 60-48 all-time in MVC games, including a 41-13 mark at home and a 19-35 record on the road. During his career, he is 63-22 in all home games, 30-51 on the road, 16-15 in neutral court contests and 34-19 in games decided by five points or less. Lansing is 0-0 against Northern Illinois and is 0-0 against the Huskies on the road. With the Trees, Lansing is 7-7 in overtime games and 74-9 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 11 more to tie John Longfellow for fifth.
Television Particulars
The Sycamores' season opener at Northern Illinois can be seen live world-wide on ESPN3.
A Little History
Indiana State is currently in its 121st season of college basketball at the school. The Sycamores are 1,456-1,255 all-time on the hardwood.
Sycamores Pick Up Decisive Victory In Exhibition Victory Over Rose-Hulman
Indiana State picked up a decisive 95-36 victory over Rose-Hulman in the Jim Shaw Classic on November 3. Jim Shaw was the 20-year head coach of RHIT and a 1989 graduate of Indiana State University who passed away in 2015. Matt Van Scyoc used a 7-of-10 shooting effort, including a 4-of-6 mark from 3-point range to lead the way with 18 points. Brenton Scott was 5-of-11 from the field to score 13 points with five rebounds, three assists and five steals. Donovan Franklin was 5-of-8 from the field to score 12 points off the bench while Brandon Murphy added 10 points and five rebounds as he hit all four of his free throw attempts. The Sycamores blazed the nets at a 39-of-72 clip for 54.2 percent, and hit 10 3-pointers in the contest. Indiana State held a 55-22 edge on the glass, led by seven rebounds off the bench from senior TJ Bell. Niels Bunschoten led the way with four assists as the Sycamores compiled 20 assists on 39 made field goals.
For Openers
Indiana State is 77-43 in season openers heading into Friday night's contest at Northern Illinois. The Sycamores have won five of their last seven lidlifters, with three victories coming at home, one on the road and the other on a neutral court. Indiana State had not won a season opener in a true road contest since December 1, 1970 at Purdue prior to a win at IUPUI to start the 2014-15 campaign.
Brenton Scott Named To Preseason All-MVC First Team
Indiana State junior Brenton Scott was named to the Preseason All-MVC First Team as announced by the league office on October 25. Scott, who is the only returning first or second team all-conference selection from last season, picked up his first ever all-conference honor last year after being named The Valley's Freshman Of The Year in 2015. The Sycamores have had at least one all-conference selection in each of the last nine years which is the third-longest active streak among the current membership of the MVC.
Sycamores Picked To Finish Sixth In Missouri Valley Conference Race
Indiana State was picked to finish sixth in the Missouri Valley Conference according to a preseason poll of league head coaches, sports information directors and a media panel. Defending league champion Wichita State was also picked to win the league. The Sycamores are coming a 15-17 record last year and a sixth place finish in the MVC race. Indiana State reached the semifinals of Arch Madness of the fourth time in the last six years last season.
Sycamores Turn In Best Defensive Performance Of Year Against Illinois State
The Indiana State Sycamores turned in their best defensive performance of the year at Arch Madness by allowing Illinois State to hit just 20-of-64 shots from the field (31.3 percent) in their quarterfinal win over the Redbirds. In fact, the Sycamores relied on their defense to open a second-half gap of as many as 17 points despite hitting more free throws (17) than field goals (11) after halftime. Brenton Scott tallied a career-best five steals in the win. He led the team with 14 points which was his team-leading 26th double digit scoring performance of the season. The Sycamores enjoyed a 28-12 edge in points coming in the paint.
Everett Clemons Named To MVC All-Newcomer Team
Everett Clemons was named to the MVC All-Newcomer Team on March 1. He made his mark on the glass as he ranked fourth in the MVC in conference games for rebounds per game with an 6.9 average. He tallied a career-best 16 rebounds from the point guard position at Southern Illinois on January 20. Clemons' 16 rebounds are the most in a single-game by a Sycamore since former All-MVC selection Matt Renn tallied 15 on his senior day against the Salukis in 2001. Overall, Clemons ranked fifth in the conference for rebounds per game with a 6.3 mark, which led the team. He had five double digit rebounding efforts over the course of the season, including three during MVC play.
Brandon Murphy An MVC Scholar-Athlete Selection
Indiana State sophomore Brandon Murphy carries a 3.25 GPA in Communications and was named to the MVC Scholar-Athlete Team as an honorable mention selection. Murphy averaged 4.9 points and 4.2 rebounds per game. In MVC contests, Murphy averaged 5.3 rebounds per game to rank 12th in the league. He pulled down 2.0 offensive rebounds per game to rank third while his 2.4 offensive rebounds per MVC game was second in the conference rankings. Murphy posted his first career double figure scoring output with 10 points in a home court victory over Wyoming. He tallied a career-high 12 rebounds in an overtime contest at Missouri State.
63 Is The Magic Number
The Sycamores win by the score of 65-57 on March 4 vs. Illinois State was ISU's 10th last season in which they held an opponent to 63 points or less and earned the victory. Under seventh-year head coach Greg Lansing, the Sycamores are 74-9 when allowing less than 63 points to the opposition (including a 17-0 mark when holding teams to 53 or less).
Good Starter On The Battery
Indiana State's starting five outscored the opposition's top five in 16 games last season. Under seventh-year head coach Greg Lansing, the Sycamores are 70-21 when the ISU starting five scores more than their opponent's starters after doing so in the win over Bradley last year.
Sycamores Have Had Success In Bounce Back Games Under Head Coach Greg Lansing
In the last six 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 49-36 in a game which follows a loss. Indiana State last rebounded from a loss at Northern Iowa to down Bradley by the score of 77-58 last week.
Sycamores Own Third-Best Record In MVC Play Over Last Six Seasons
In the last six seasons under the direction of head coach Greg Lansing, the Sycamores have amassed a total of 60 Missouri Valley Conference victories. Those 60 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 60 MVC victories for the Sycamores since the 2010-11 campaign ranks third-best among current conference members. Wichita State's 93 leads the league while Indiana State has 60 and Northern Iowa is second with 67. The next closest program behind the Sycamores in Evansville which owns 55 victories while Illinois State owns 53.
Greg Lansing Selected For Induction Into Iowa High School Basketball Hall Of Fame
Indiana State head coach Greg Lansing was inducted into the Iowa High School Athletic Association Basketball Hall of Fame as part of their 2016 class. Lansing and the other selected inductees were honored individually at halftime of the Iowa Class 4A State Championship Game at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines on 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 are just the 10th father/son duo to both be inducted into the Hall of Fame since 1969.
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 63-22 (.741) inside Hulman Center under sixth-year head coach Greg Lansing. The Sycamores have won 53 of their last 71 home games. Additionally, the Sycamores have won 41 of their last 54 MVC games at home. The Sycamores were 10-4 at home last season. Indiana State owns a win in their last meeting with every MVC opponent at home with the exception of Wichita State and Southern Illinois. The longest stretch of consecutive home victories is against Illinois State which has now reached nine.
Up Next
Indiana State continues a two-game road swing to open the season at Ball State on Tuesday, November 15. Tip-off is set for 7:00 p.m. (ET) and can be seen live world-wide on ESPN3.
