TERRE HAUTE, Ind. -- Indiana State owned its largest lead of the game, 12 points just over nine minutes in the game but trailed at the half by three before pouring it on in the second half en route to spoiling the Missouri Valley Conference debut for visiting Valparaiso with a 73-64 Sycamore victory inside Hulman Center.

The Sycamores snapped a two-game skid to improve to 6-7, 1-0 MVC and gave the program a win in its league opener for fifth time in the last seven seasons. Valpo dropped to 9-5, 0-1 MVC with the loss. It was the first win for the Sycamores over Valparaiso since a 2004 win inside Hulman Center, and erased losses to the Crusaders in non-conference play over the last two seasons. ISU and Valparaiso are members of the same league for the second time as both were members of the Indiana Collegiate Conference from 1950 until 1968.



The Sycamores struggled offensively in the first half hitting just 9-of-24 shots (37.5 percent), despite at one time owning a double digit lead. Valparaiso hit 11-of-19 in the opening stanza (57.9 percent) and led 30-27 at the break. But what a turnaround after the half as ISU hit 13-of-18 in the second half (72.2 percent) and were a blazing 5-of-8 from long distance (62.5 percent) to wipe out the deficit in route to the nine point league opening victory.

Jordan Barnes, who entered the game as the fourth-best 3-point shooter in the nation and the tops in the MVC., connected on 4-of-5 shots from distance to lead the team with 18 points. He tied for the team high in rebounds with five and added three assists with two steals. Brenton Scott continued his chase for the No. 7 spot on the ISU scoring chart by recording 15 points and added four rebounds with two steals. Also in double figures was Qiydar Davis who didn't miss any of his three shots from the field, including his lone 3-point attempt en route to 11 points and five rebounds with three assists and three steals.

Freshman Clayton Hughes earned his first career start and added five points with two steals. Tyreke Key posted nine points and four rebounds while Bronson Kessinger added eight points and two rebounds to the winning effort. 

ISU controlled the glass to the tune of a 29-25 margin and converted 22 Valpo turnovers into 28 points. The Sycamores finished with a 22-of-42 effort from the field (52.4 percent) and was 10-of-18 from 3-point distance (55.6 percent).

Scott connected on a 3-pointer to get things going and ISU used an early 7-0 run after Valpo's first bucket to take an 11-2 lead just over seven minutes into the game. After Valpo's second field goal, ISu scored five in a row with Davis' 3-pointer and a lay-up by Scott for the 16-4 lead -- its largest of the game at the 10:54 mark. A 3-pointer by Hughes with 4:28 remaining in the opening half staked ISU to a 25-15 lead, but the games next 12 were scored by the Crusaders as a lay-up by John Kiser with 2:02 on the clock pushed Valpo ahead 27-25. Key grabbed a steal and fast break lay-up with 1:21 to go to level the score, but Bakarai Evelyn drained a 3-pointer as the clock went under a minute to go as the Crusaders led 30-27 at the break.

Davis would score the first four points of the second half as ISU regained a 31-30 lead. A conventional 3-point play by Brenton Scott with 14:07 remaining pushed ISU ahead 43-39 to ignite a 10-0 run which gave the Sycamores a 48-39 lead with 12:03 to go. Valpo quickly erased the lead as they scored eight of the game's next 10 points to tie the score of the fifth time at 50 with 9:36 on the clock. Emondre Rickman grabbed a big offensive rebound and lay-up at the 8:10 mark to push the Sycamores back ahead and Barnes got hot from distance as he buried a 3-pointer at the 7:32 mark to restore a five-point advantage.

Max Joseph's lay-up after a steal drew the Crusaders within five points, but Barnes drained a jumper and then he found Scott opener for a 3-pointer with three minutes to go as ISU led 65-55. Indiana State would prove to be solid from the free throw line down the stretch to earn the 73-64 victory.

Tevonn Walker returned from a four-game absence due to illness to score 19 points while Bakari Evelyn also added 19.

Indiana State now hits the road for its next two MVC contests beginning with a road game at Illinois State on New Year's Eve for a 4 pm (ET) game inside Redbird Arena. The game will be broadcast on The Valley On ESPN3.