TERRE HAUTE, Ind. -- Basketball runs are not always born on the offensive end, although buckets obviously have to be shot to string together points. But it was the Sycamores who embraced the grind on the defensive end -- including drawing a trio of charges inside of the final two minutes -- to gut out a big 63-54 non-conference victory over Western Kentucky inside Hulman Center on Saturday afternoon.
Emotions ran high as the Sycamores won their third consecutive game to improve to 3-1 on the season while Western Kentucky fell to 3-3. It snapped a three-game losing skid to the Hilltoppers and was the Sycamores' first win against WKU since 2009 and its first in Terre Haute since 1941.
ISU did it on the defensive end as they improved to 87-10 under ninth-year head coach
Greg Lansing when holding teams to 63 points or less. The Sycamores limited Western Kentucky to just 36.8 percent shooting, including only 8-of-28 (28.6 percent) after halftime. Indiana State meanwhile hit 23-of-56 shots (41.1 percent) and dished out 13 assists on 23 made field goals. The Sycamores connected on nine attempts from long range, including three each from
Jordan Barnes and
Tyreke Key.
Barnes led the way with 17 points scored and added a team-best seven rebounds to go with three assists. Key was right there with him as he scored 16 points, hitting 5-of-7 shots from the field and was a perfect 3-of-3 from 3-point range. He added six rebounds and two assists with two steals.
Emondre Rickman had two big plays in the second half and finished with eight points and four rebounds.
But the story of the game may have been the final two minutes when the Sycamores drew three Western Kentucky offensive fouls -- a pair of from
Clayton Hughes who has become known around the Wabash Valley for making all kinds of hustle plays, including charges taken. The other was from graduate transfer
Allante Holston who took one with with the Sycamores up eight. Hughes' charges taken came at pivotal moments with ISU up 59-54 with 57 seconds left and up 61-54 with 28 seconds to go to steal the victory.
Barnes and
De'Avion Washington did the rest as they went a perfect 4-of-4 from the free throw line in the final 41 seconds to salt away with the 64-54 win.
Western Kentucky scored the first five points of the game, but Barnes hit a runner at the 17:46 mark to make it 5-2. Murray scored inside for the Hilltoppers before Hughes connected on the first 3-pointer of the game to get ISU within 7-5. The Sycamores would fall behind by four points but scored the game's next nine points, including a fast break bucket by Barnes and then one his three 3-pointers for the 14-9 cushion with 12:21 to go.
Hollingsworth cut the Sycamore lead down to 22-21 with a jumper at the 6:30 mark, but
Bronson Kessinger came back with a lay-up of his own off the feed from Washington as ISU led 24-21. Bassey tied the game up at 25-25 with 2:35 remaining, but ISU scored five in a row off a trey from Barnes and then a Key steal and fast break for the 30-25 lead with just under two minutes remaining. Key then scored again in the paint with 39 seconds to go and Murray answered at the 17 mark before Barnes had a jumper at the buzzer dance around the rim but ISU led 32-30 at the break.
WKU scored first to tie the game up before Rickman scored inside, Key followed with a 3-pointer and then Thomas went one from distance as well to make it an 8-0 run and give ISU the 40-32 lead. A free throw at the 15:09 mark stretched the Sycamore lead out to 42-33. Hughes connected on a fast break bucket at the 9:52 mark before WKU answered with seven in a row as Banton drew the Tops within 48-46 with 7:33 to go.
Rickman scored inside but missed the free throw and then Holston hit a free throw as ISU led 51-46 with 6:34 on the clock. Holston grabbed a defensive rebound and Kessinger scored inside with just under six minutes to go as ISU led it 53-46.
Key hit a 3-pointer with 4:49 to go which put ISU ahead 56-49 and after the Hilltoppers scored the next two, Barnes buried them with a 3-point dagger at the 2:23 mark for the 59-51 advantage. From there, the Sycamores stood tall on defense and hit their free throws to earn the victory.
Charles Bassey led three Hilltoppers in double figures scoring with 16 points.
Indiana State hits the road on Wednesday, November 28 as they travel to San Jose State for the Missouri Valley / Mountain West Challenge. Tip-off is set for 10 pm (ET) and can be heard live in the Wabash Valley on 97.9 FM WIBQ.
