VALPARAISO, Ind. -- Indiana State men's basketball wraps the 2020-21 regular season with a pair of games at Valparaiso Friday, Feb. 26 at 7 p.m. and Saturday, Feb. 27 at 6 p.m. in the Athletics-Recreation Center.
A SENIOR NIGHT TO REMEMBER
Guard Tyreke Key, the lone four-year player honored in the Sycamores' final game at Hulman Center, put together a career-best performance to lead ISU over Evansville, 87-73. The Celina, Tenn. scored a career-best 34 points, including a record-tying 28 points in the second half. The guard shot 70-percent from the floor and 5-of-7 from the three-point line. It marked his third 30+ point performance of the campaign, having scored 31 two other times during the season.
ANOTHER CAREER-BEST
Not only did Key set a career-high for points in a game against Evansville Feb. 17, but Sycamores sophomore Tre Williams also enjoyed a career night scoring 23 points. In fact, the forward set a new best in the first half, scoring 20 points against the Purple Aces in the opening stanza.
20 POINT PARTY
In a furious dig through available statistics, no other instances were found dating back to the turn of the 20th century of two Sycamores scoring 20 points in a half in the same game. Tre Williams scored 20 in the first half against Evansville Feb. 17, and Tyreke Key followed that with a 28-point output in the second. It was the third 20-point half of the season for ISU, as Jake LaRavia also pulled off the feat against Ball State De. 19.
    Prior to the 2020-21 campaign, Indiana State had just five 20-point performances in a half in the past six seasons. Jordan Barnes (2018-19), Brenton Scott 2x (2017-18, 2016-17), and Devonte Brown 2x (2015-16, 2014-15).
FREE THROW ODDITY
Wednesday's victory over Evansville marked the first time in the 2020-21 season that Indiana State won while making fewer free throws than its opponent.
    The Purple Aces made 11-of-12 from the charity stripe, while the Sycamores made 10-of-14. ISU had been 0-10 in games that their opponents made more free throws prior to Wednesday's 87-73 victory.
BACK-TO-BACK 20+ POINT GAMES
Another scoring rarity transpired during the Sycamores' series with Evansville, as both games featured two 20-point scorers for Indiana State.
    Senior Tyreke Key (29) and sophomore Jake LaRavia (20) provided the scoring touch against the Purple Aces in their matchup Feb. 14, while Key (34) and sophomore Tre Williams (23) did so in the Feb. 17 contest.
    It marked the first time since the 2018-19 season that Indiana State had back-to-back games with 20-point scorers, when Jordan Barnes and Tyreke Key did so against North Texas and Truman State.
GREG LANSING SECOND ON ISU WINS LIST WITH 179
Greg Lansing's 179 career victories rank second in the history of the program, trailing only ISU Hall of Famer Duane Klueh who owns the school record with 182 career wins.
KEY EYES WHO'S NEXT
Senior guard Tyreke Key has rocketed up the Indiana State all-time scoring list, jumping three spots on the Indiana State with his 29 point performance against Evansville Sunday, Feb. 14.
    The guard now has 1,620 career points, passing No. 8 Jordan Barnes (1,558), No. 7 David Moss (1,562), and No. 6 Jake Odum (1,568), and sitting 52 points behind Butch Wade (1964-67), who scored 1,672 career points.
    The Celina, Tenn. native has averaged 23.8 points since the last time he was held to single-digits against Southern Illinois (six games) Jan.26. Key notched a new career-high of 34 points in just 28 minutes of play against Evansville Feb. 17.
RED-HOT SHOOTING
When the Sycamores shot .596 from the floor against Evansville Sunday, Feb. 14, it was their best shooting game since beating San Jose State 86-57 behind a .642 shooting performance in 2018.
    Then Indiana State topped its own performance with a .648 (35-of-54) showing against the Purple Aces Feb. 17. As far back as historical archives go (2014-15 season), ISU has not shot better than that from the floor.
    Sunday's win also came as Evansville shot .543 overall, marking the first time Indiana State won while its opponent shot .500-or-better since Valparaiso shot .500 from the floor and ISU won 87-82 Feb. 13, 2019.
NEXT UP
Indiana State finishes its 2020-21 regular season with a 6 p.m. showdown against Valparaiso Saturday. The Sycamores are guaranteed a spot in Arch Madness as either the No. 4 or No. 5 seed, meaning their first game will be Friday, March 5 at 3 p.m. ET.
