TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – Five different Sycamores scored in double figures Saturday afternoon as Indiana State defeated Ball State, 83-71, inside the Hulman Center.
 
Cooper Neese paced the Sycamores with 17 points on 7-of-10 shooting from the field, while Courvoisier McCauley and Trenton Gibson each posted double-figures in their second straight game with 14 and 12 points, respectively.
 
Kailex Stephens posted 11 points as he shot 9-of-10 from the charity stripe, and Jayson Kent put up 13 points off the bench including going 3-for-5 from deep.
 
Six Sycamores had four or more rebounds in the game, led by Courvoisier McCauley with six, all on the defensive end. ISU also collected 12 steals in the game led by Gibson and Julian Larry with three apiece and Cameron Henry and McCauley with a pair each.
 
Indiana State won the tip and hit back-to-back buckets to take a quick 4-0 lead, and the Sycamores would never trail in the game. Cooper Neese's first triple of the year sparked a 9-0 Sycamore run that was persevered by a block from Cameron Henry and capped off by a 3-pointer by Jayson Kent to make it 19-8 at 11:54. Kent's triple was assisted by newcomer Cade McKnight who checked in shortly before that for his debut in the Blue and White.
 
The Sycamores later went on a 10-0 run to gain their largest lead of the game, pushing ahead by 15 points at 33-18 with 3:48 to go in the first half. Neese and Xavier Bledson off the bench knocked down a pair of late threes, and Neese put up nine of Indiana State's last 13 points in the half on a 7-of-9 shooting clip from the field. The Sycamores led 43-31 at the break.
 
Early in the second half, Courvoisier McCauley laid out for a steal and Kailex Stephens was able to send the ball up to Trenton Gibson for the layup to get him in double figures on the scoresheet. McCauley then knocked down a 3-pointer to put ISU up 49-40 at 16:56. Julian Larry later pulled down the offensive board to set Kent up for a triple at 13:23 before snatching another rebound, this time on the defensive end, to once again set Kent up for a triple that pushed Indiana State's lead back to double digits and make him the fourth Sycamore in double figures on the day. In the final minute of play with Indiana State up 79-69, Henry came up with a clinching stop as he swiped a pass and set up Kent for a layup. Larry knocked down a pair of free throws to end the game 83-71 for the Sycamores.
 
Inside the Numbers

• Indiana State shot 50.8% from the field in the game while holding Ball State to 41.7%.
• The Sycamores dished out 13 assists, led by Henry and Larry with four each.
• ISU forced 19 turnovers and scored 23 points off those turnovers while holding Ball State to eight points off 12 Sycamore turnovers.
• The Sycamores outscored the Cardinals on fast breaks, 23-2, in the paint, 38-32, and off the bench, 22-10.

 
News & Notes

• With the win, the Sycamores start their season 2-0 for the first time since 2011-12.
• Cade McKnight made his much-anticipated ISU debut with an assist in 3:24 minutes played off the bench.
• Kailex Stephens' nine free throws are a career-high for the senior.
• Jayson Kent's 13 points are an ISU career-high for the sophomore transfer.
• Saturday was the first time ISU had five or more players in double figures since Dec. 29, 2021 in a 107-51 win against Midway.

 
Up Next
The Sycamores close out their season-opening homestand Thursday, Nov. 17 when they host North Dakota State. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. EST at the Hulman Center.
 
Indiana State Men's Basketball Season Ticket Information
Single game and season tickets for the 2022-23 Indiana State men's basketball team are on sale now. The Sycamores will host 10 conference games to go along with the nonconference slate. For the first time, the Missouri Valley Conference will play a 20-game conference slate following the additions of Murray State, Belmont and Illinois-Chicago to the League beginning July 1, 2022.

Those seeking more information on season tickets can contact Assistant Manager of Athletic Ticketing Austin Bishop by phone at 812-237-8972 or via email at Austin.Bishop@indstate.edu. Fans can also call 877-ISU-TIXS or email ISU-Tickets@indstate.edu. Fans can also buy season tickets online by clicking HERE.
 
Follow the Sycamores
For the latest information on the Sycamore Men's Basketball team, make sure to check out GoSycamores.com. You can also find the team on social media including Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.  Fans can also receive updates on Sycamore Athletics by downloading the March On App from both the App Store and the Google Play Store.
 
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