TERRE HAUTE, Ind. -- Indiana State entered the Wright State game as the best 3-point shooting team in the nation and got hot down the stretch before making the hustle plays that they needed to grind out a hard-fought 69-63 win over the Raiders inside Hulman Center.

ISU won for the fifth consecutive time and improve to 5-1 while Wright State fell to 4-4. It marked the first five-game winning streak for the program since a stretch of wins over Illinois State (twice), Evansville, Missouri State and Southern Illinois from Dec. 31, 2014 through January 14, 2015. This was the first-ever meeting between the Sycamores and Raiders -- who are the preseason pick to win the Horizon League. During this current stretch of victories, the Sycamores have not allowed an opponent to hit over 40 percent of their shots from the field and have picked up four consecutive victories by holding each of the last four teams to 63 points or less. That's important as the Sycamores are now 89-10 under ninth-year head coach Greg Lansing while holding teams below that point total.

The Sycamores have now hit 50 percent of their 3-point shots this season (40-of-80) and blistered the nets for a 53.8 percent mark in this game from downtown. ISU was 7-of-13, led by junior Jordan Barnes who tallied 5-of-7 from downtown, including a 3-of-4 mark after halftime. Barnes led the way with 24 points and added three assists as well as two assists and one steal. Tyreke Key added 17 points and led the rebounding wars with seven caroms while Devin Thomas snuck in double figures with 10 points as he hit 4-of-5 from the field to go with one triple.

It was once again hustle plays down the stretch the preserved the late lead, including a soaring blocked shot by freshman De'Avion Washington with 41 seconds remaining plus two more defensive rebounds late which led to the rookie making free throws down the stretch to win.

When Key buried a 3-pointer with 17:43 left in the game off the Allante Holston assist, the Sycamores led the Raiders 34-29. But Wright State countered with eight points in a row as the Sycamores went cold for two and a half minutes and the Raider advantage swelled to 39-35 when Potter scored inside with 15:31 to go. Holston grabbed his own miss and hit a lay-up at the 15:12 mark to sneak the Sycamores within two points. Emondre Rickman recorded one of his three blocked shots and Key cleaned up a defensive rebound to set up a Barnes trifecta with 13:58 mark to give the Sycamores a 40-39 lead.

Loudon Love scored inside to push Wright State back ahead at 41-40 but Barnes hit a long jumper off the assist from Clayton Hughes to push ISU ahead 42-41 and then Key scored inside for the 44-41 cushion. Love answered with a bucket inside again but Barnes stayed out from outside for a four-point Sycamore cushion and then Ernsthausen's triple on the next possession drew the Raiders within a point and forced the sycamores to call a timeout.

Out of the break, Barnes drilled his third consecutive 3-pointer and Key drove in for a lay-up before a convention 3-point play by Devin Thomas made it 55-46 in favor of ISU with 8:50 to go. It would prove to be an 8-0 run and Barnes drove in for a lay-up for the Sycamores' first double digit lead of the second half and a 57-47 lead. All told, ISU scored 10 of 11 points to transform the game.

But Wright State showed some grit and battled back from down nine points with 2:53 remaining all the way to 63-61 at the 1:21 mark when Bill Wampler drained a corner 3-pointer. Hughes drove in the paint to score to restore a four-point lead and then Washington soared for his blocked shot as the ball bounced to Barnes who was fouled. Barnes hit then both with 37 seconds to go for a six point lead and then Washington grabbed a big defensive rebound and hit 1-of-2 charity tosses for the 68-61 lead with 27 seconds remaining. Hughes missed a trifecta for Wright State and Washington again grabbed the rebound and hit 1-of-2 again at the line for the 69-61 lead. Gentry scored inside with eight seconds remaining but the damage had been done and ISU earned the 69-63 lead.

ISU hit 12-of-24 shots in the second half, including a 4-of-7 marker after halftime and finished 24-of-50 for the game (48 percent). The Sycamore defense was again solid as they limited the Raiders to just 33.3 percent shooting in the second half and they were 21-of-55 in the second half (38.2 percent). 

Trailing 12-10 early, the Sycamores rattled off nine in a row to stake themselves to a 19-12 lead midway through the first half before Vest hit a 3-pointer with 8:52 remaining to cut the into the ISU lead at 19-15. Barnes hit one of his two first half 3-pointers to answer as ISU regained a 22-15 lead. After Wright State scored seven in a row to knot the game at 22, Kessinger scored inside and then Washington added a steal and fast break lay-up before Rickman hit a jumper in the paint for a 28-22 lead. Holston would scored inside off the assist from Barnes and ISU led 31-24 with 1:04 remaining. Hughes buried a 3-pointer as the buzzer sounded and ISU led it 31-27 at the break.

Bill Wampler -- a transfer from MVC member Drake -- led the way for Wright State with 22 points while Loudon Love added 10 points and 11 rebounds inside.

Indiana State's current three-game home stand continues on Wednesday, December 5 when the Sycamores host North Texas inside Hulman Center. Tip-off is set for 7:00 pm (ET).