TERRE HAUTE, Ind. -- Indiana State poured it on early on the offensive end and didn't allow a field goal during the first seven minutes and 11 seconds of play in en route to a convincing 85-62 victory over visiting Evansville on Wednesday night inside Hulman Center.

The Sycamores improved to 12-11, 4-7 MVC while Evansville fell to 10-14, 4-7 MVC. It was the fourth consecutive win for the Sycamores against the Purple Aces and the eighth in a row at home over Evansville. The victory was also win No. 1,493 in the history of the program.

ISU improved to 92-10 under ninth-year head coach Greg Lansing when holding teams to 63 points or less. They hit the magic number defensively tonight by limiting Evansville to 36.2 percent shooting, including a 6-of-26 mark from 3-point range (23.1 percent). Evansville would miss each of their first 12 shots from long distance in the contest. ISU did not allow a field goal for over seven minutes of play which when coupled with the fact that the Sycamores did not allow a field goal in overtime during the first meeting made it a combined 12 minutes and 11 seconds without allowing a field goal to Evansville over the course of both games.

Also when combined with the Sycamores' overtime win at Evansville back on January 12 -- the Purple Aces are the first season series sweep victim for ISU during MVC play.

Freshman Cooper Neese led the way for ISU with 18 points -- a new career-high for the Cloverdale, Ind., native. Neese hit 5-of-8 shots from the field, including a laser-like 4-of-5 from 3-point range. Fellow freshman De'Avion Washington also tallied a career high as he owned 10 points, hitting 3-of-4 from distance and doing most of his damage in the first half.



Tyreke Key was once again steady, posting his sixth consecutive game of at least a 50 percent shooting mark hitting 3-of-6 from the field and his lone 3-pointer He finished with 15 points while Christian Williams added 11 and tied with Jordan Barnes for the team lead in rebounds with five.

ISU hit 54.2 percent of their shots (26-of-48) and were 9-of-15 from 3-point range (60 percent). The Sycamores made 24-of-32 free throws -- a tally aided by three Evansville technical fouls including a pair on head coach Walter McCarty which led to his ejection from the game.

The Sycamores won the rebounding battle by a 41-28 margin and owned 17 assists on 26 made field goals. The was the 27th win in Missouri Valley Conference play by at least 20 points and the first one since January 20, 2018 when ISU down Illinois State by the score of 84-54 inside Hulman Center.

Barnes connected with Key on an alley-oop less than two minutes into the game as the Sycamores slugged their way to an early 8-1 advantage and did not allow a field goal until the 12:49 mark when Jawaun Newton scored inside to trim the lead down to 8-3. ISU countered with five ina row when Williams hit a jumper in the paint as the clock ticked towards the 10 minute mark for the 13-3 advantage. 

Washington was huge in helping extend the lead before the break as he hit a 3-pointer at the 5:20 mark to stake the Sycamores to a 26-11 cushion. Rickman would kick start a late first half 7-0 run which ended with a Cooper Neese 3-pointer with 32 seconds on the clock for the 37-15 lead. Key drove the length of the floor in less than four seconds and hit a lay-up at the buzzer as ISU led 39-17 at the half.

Key's 3-pointer with 18:48 to go in the game pushed the ISU lead out to 42-17 and the lead hit the 30-point mark for the first time with 9:28 remaining when Allante Holston scored inside for a 67-37 advantage. The largest lead of the game came with 8:05 to go when Williams converted a conventional 3-point play for a 72-41 lead -- 31 points. 

Walkon Tyeshon Martin provided the icing on the cake when he connected on a corner 3-pointer with 46 seconds to go for the 85-59 lead.

Dainius Chatkevicius paced Evansville with 12 points.

Indiana State now must hit the road for its next two Missouri Valley Conference contests in an attempt to jump back into the upper half of the league race. The first game is a Saturday night showdown in Peoria as the Sycamores travel to Bradley on February 9 at 8 pm (ET). The game will be televised nationally on ESPN+.