TERRE HAUTE, Ind. - The Sycamores are set to face Drake for the second time this season Tuesday, Jan. 24, this time on a bigger stage as the game will be broadcasted on CBS Sports Network. Tip-off is set for 9 p.m. ET from the Knapp Center in Des Moines, Iowa.
 
Indiana State will be looking to sweep the season series against the Bulldogs after defeating them at home in the Valley opener back on Nov. 30 earlier this season.
 
The Sycamores will also be looking to break a four-game skid after falling 82-73 at Murray State Saturday.
 
After starting off 6-0 in Valley play, the Sycamores have dropped their last four games. The four-game skid marks ISU's longest losing streak of the season, and it's the longest current losing streak out of the 10 Valley teams with two or more league  wins.
 
True freshman Robbie Avila scored a career-high 18 points at Murray State, besting his previous career-high of 16 that he tied against Drake in the first meeting between the two teams this season.
 
At 13-7, head coach Josh Schertz has already surpassed last season's amount of total (11) and Valley (4) wins. Only four ISU coaches have improved win totals from year one to year two.

SERIES HISTORY
The Sycamores are set to face the Bulldogs for the 97th time dating back to 1945 and the second time this season. The series is tied 48-48 after Indiana State won its first matchup against Drake earlier this season, 75-73, in the MVC opener at Hulman Center on Nov. 30, 2022.
 
ISU's win against Drake in the most recent meeting marked its first-ever win against Drake in a Valley opener, and it was Drake's first loss of the season.
 
The Sycamores hold the advantage in Terre Haute, but in Des Moines, ISU trails 31-13 in the series.

LAST GAME AGAINST THE BULLDOGS
In front of a packed crowd in a sea of blue at the Hulman Center Nov. 30, the Indiana State Sycamores fought for a gutsy win against the previously undefeated Missouri Valley Conference preseason favorite Drake, defeating the Bulldogs 75-73 in their Valley opener.
 
Indiana State led Drake for 31:15 in the game, but after being up by 14 points at 8:40 in the first half, the Sycamores found themselves down by five with 3:57 to go in the second. Leading scorer Robbie Avila sparked a late 9-0 run for the Sycamores spanning 2:38 to get ISU back up to a four-point lead at 73-69 with 15 seconds to go, and Cameron Henry hit four clutch free throws in those final 15 seconds to help the Sycamores fend off a late push from the Bulldogs.
 
Avila finished the night with 16 points on 5-of-7 shooting from the field alongside a team-high eight rebounds, three assists, and a steal. Henry was 10-of-12 from the charity stripe in the game and finished with 14 points, three rebounds, and three assists.
 
Jayson Kent made his first start of the season and scored the first eight straight points for the Sycamores before capping his night with a pair of game-tying free throws in the last 1:35 to get him in double-figures. He also pulled down a career-high seven boards.Courvoisier McCauley also scored in double-figures with 12 points off the bench. Kailex Stephens was 2-of-2 from the field with five rebounds and two steals.
 
Cooper Neese exited the court with an injury at 3:18 in the first half and did not return.

LAST TIME OUT
Robbie Avila posted a career-high 18 points Saturday evening, but the Sycamores saw their losing streak hit a season-high four games as Indiana State fell 82-73 to Murray State at CSFB Center.
 
The Sycamores (13-8, 6-4 MVC) rode an 11-0 run across the end of the first half into the second, including a buzzer-beating putback from Cade McKnight that tied things up at 36-all at the break. After opening the second half with three-straight buckets to take a 42-36 lead, the Sycamores gave up a 9-0 Racer run that turned the lead over to Murray State (11-9, 6-4 MVC) for the rest of the game.
 
Courvoisier McCauley paced all scorers in the game with 19 points, and Avila pulled down a tied team-high seven boards alongside his 18 points. Cooper Neese also hauled in seven rebounds, and Cameron Henry dished out a game-high six assists beside 16 points. McKnight rounded out the Sycamores in double-figures with 11 points on 5-of-6 shooting.

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