TERRE HAUTE, Ind. -- Indiana State played overtime in each of its first two games to start the 2016-17 campaign, but did not need extra time in game three as they used a strong start, a strong shooting performance and a stifling defense to earn a 96-55 victory over visiting Missouri-St. Louis in front of 3,141 fans inside Hulman Center.
The Sycamores won for the second time in a row to improve to 2-1 on the season while UMSL drops to 2-2.
Indiana State recorded 15 3-point field goals in the game, eclipsing double digits in that category for the second time this season. They hit 16-of-28 shots (57.1 percent) in the first half and topped that after halftime with a 15-of-24 mark (62.5 percent). For the game, the Sycamores hit 31-of-52 attempts (59.6 percent). Conversely, they allowed just 20-of-54 shooting (37 percent) in the victory.
Leading the way was senior Matt Van Scyoc who scored 14 points for the fourth consecutive game. He was tied with junior Brenton Scott who hit a pair of 3-pointers and also scored 14. Sophomore Donovan Franklin was a perfect 5-of-5 from the free throw line and scored a career-best 13 points while Brandon Murphy also scored a career-high 11 points.
ISU held a 36-30 lead in the rebounding war, led by six from senior Everett Clemons. He added a 3-pointer and six assists. The Sycamores forced 17 Triton turnovers and were led by four steals from Scott.
Van Scyoc scored first for the Sycamores as he hit a 3-pointer less than a minute into the game and Scott followed with a steal and fast break lay-up for the quick 5-0 lead. Up 20-9, Scott got another steal and score to begin a long 10-0 run in which they held UMSL without a point for nearly five minutes. A 3-pointer from Van Scyoc at the 6:44 mark staked the Sycamores to a 34-13 advantage.
After an UMSL score, the Sycamores rattled off eight more in a row, capped by Clemons' 3-pointer with 4:20 remaining as they made it an 18-2 run. Jordan Barnes hit a jumper with four seconds on the clock to close out the first half scoring and take a 50-22 lead into the locker room. Van Scyoc led the way in the first half with 11 points.
Laquarious Paige scored on the Sycamores' first possession of the second half and then Scott nailed a 3-pointer as the Sycamores found themselves up 55-22 less than a minute after halftime. It proved to be a 9-0 run around the break as Murphy converted a charity toss at the 17:17 mark for the 56-22 edge.
UMSL would get the lead down to 29 points, but Niels Bunschoten came off the bench at the 12:03 mark to record a 3-pointer and then ISU had a 5-0 mni run capped by another Bunschoten 3-pointer and with just less than eight minutes to go ISU was up 77-41.
A jumper by senior TJ Bell with 3:40 remaining put the lead over 40 points as the Sycamores were up 90-49. A 3-pointer by Franklin with 50 seconds on the clock closed out the scoring and gave the Sycamores a 96-55 win.
Missouri-St. Louis was led in scoring by Dre Holmes who had 11 points.
Indiana State takes the national stage once again on Thanksgiving Day when they play against nationally-ranked Iowa State at the Advocare Invitational located at the Walt Disney World Resort near Orlando, Fla. Tip-off is set for 12:30 p.m. (ET) and will be televised by ESPN2 and world-wide on the WatchESPN app.
