TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Indiana State men's basketball battled the 24
th-ranked team in the nation on Friday night, the University of Alabama, falling 102-80 in Tuscaloosa. The Sycamores move to 1-1 on the young season, while Alabama moved to 2-0.
The leading scoring trio from the season opener against SMWC –
Isaiah Swope,
Ryan Conwell,
Jayson Kent – rose atop the scoring charts again with double digits, and this time were joined by
Julian Larry.
Swope led the Sycamores in scoring for the second game in a row, finishing with 17 points on 6-for-13 from the floor, with four makes coming from three point land. Conwell matched Swope from three, converting four of his own for 16 points on the night. Larry finished with 15 points and Kent with 14.
Swope and Conwell combined for 57.1% (8-for-14) from beyond the arc, and Conwell recorded 10 rebounds for his first double-double of the season.
Other key numbers from the game include:
Xavier Bledson recorded 5 assists; Kent finished 6-for-8 from the floor (75%); and Larry,
Jake Wolfe, and
Derek Vorst combed to shoot 10-for-14 (71.4%).
The Sycamores got the scoring going early, jumping to a quick 9-0 lead three minutes into the game. The Tide stormed back into the ballgame, flooding in 15 straight points in just about a three-minute span.
The Sycamores kept the game close and reclaimed the lead at the 7:35 mark in the first half off a steal by Bledson leading to a three pointer by Swope at the other end of the floor. Alabama battled to go up by 11 at the halftime buzzer.
Alabama was able to fend off any scoring efforts from the Sycamores in the second half, though through the first 13 minutes of the second half the Sycamores never let the Tide grow any more than a 14-point lead.
Inside the Numbers
- The Sycamores finished the night with a 27-for-53 (50.9%) shooting effort, including knocking down 10 triples.
- Indiana State has recorded seven straight games with 8+ three pointers, dating back to last season.
- In 36 games last season, ISU as a team finished shooting 50.9% or better from the field. In the 2023-24 season opener, ISU shot 55.4%.
- Alabama shot 51.6% from field goal range and knocked down 13 three pointers. The Tide had three players finish with at least 20 points each.
News & Notes
- Ryan Conwell recorded a double-double with 16 points and 10 rebounds for the first time as a Sycamore. This is the first double-double recorded since Courvoisier McCauley scored 18 points and grabbed 11 rebounds last February against Evansville.
Up Next
The Sycamores will be back in Hulman Center on Tuesday, November 14, as the Jaguars from IUPUI make the short trip from Indianapolis to Terre Haute for a 7 p.m. tip. Following Tuesday's matchup, the next time ISU will take the floor will be on November 21 in Las Vegas, Nev. for the Ball Dawgs Classic against Rice.
Single Game and Season Tickets Still on Sale
Those seeking more information on single game and season tickets can call 877-ISU-TIXS or email
ISU-Tickets@indstate.edu. Fans can also buy season tickets online by clicking
HERE. The season features 14 home games and away games in Las Vegas, Nev. for the Ball Dawgs Classic (Nov. 21-24), at Gainbridge Fieldhouse (Dec. 15 vs. Ball State), and Dec. 30 at Michigan State.
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.
