TERRE HAUTE, Ind. - Indiana State men's basketball holds the lead in all 40 minutes and gets back on track with a 87-73 win at home versus the Evansville Purple Aces. ISU improved to 12-2, 3-0 MVC with the win while UE fell to 10-4, 1-2 MVC.

Ryan Conwell led the way for the Sycamores with his second double-double, scoring 16 points and grabbing a career-high 11 rebounds. Isaiah Swope and Jayson Kent each scored 18 points. Swope knocked down four triples and recorded five rebounds. Kent converted on 8-of-9 free-throw attempts while tacking on eight rebounds.

Robbie Avila scored 16 points, and Xavier Bledson tied his career-high in three-pointers with four en route to 12 points.

The Sycamores opened the game with a 14-5 lead in the first 5:15 of the game with three triples by Avila, Swope, and Conwell. After the Purple Aces cut the lead to 22-17 midway through the first half, ISU built the lead back to 12 with 7:33 remaining, 35-22, off of back-to-back three-pointers by Bledson.

Evansville battled back to again cut the lead to a five-point disadvantage 40-35, before ISU closed out the half strong featuring a last-second shot from Robbie Avila. Julian Larry threw the in-bounds pass under the basket with 0.4 seconds remaining, connecting with Avila on a buzzer-beating jumper in the right short corner to give the Sycamores a double-digit lead heading into the break, 48-37.

Indiana State came out of the half hot, using a 25-8 run to build a 25-point lead with just over 10 minutes remaining. Avila recorded six-straight points to start the run, followed by the combination of Swope, Bledson, Kent, and Conwell all recorded points until an Evansville three-pointer ended the run.

The Evansville offense kicked into gear, recording their own 17-2 run in 5:26 to trail 80-72 with 2:06 to play. Five-straight points from Conwell, Kent, and Larry grew ISU's lead to 13 points to fend off any comeback by the Purple Aces. Evansville converted one free throw, then Jake Wolfe knocked down the final two free throws to secure the 87-73 victory.

News & Notes

• Indiana State has recorded the best record through 14 games under Coach Josh Schertz. This year, ISU has started 12-2 while last year ISU kicked off the season with a 10-2 record.
• ISU led for the entire game versus Evansville with no ties. This was the first time all season ISU led the entire game with no ties or lead changes.
• Indiana State's 87 points ranks as the eighth-highest team total this season through 14 games.
• Isaiah Swope made four three-pointers for the ninth time in his 13 games this season.
• Ryan Conwell recorded a double-double for the second time this season with 16 points and 11 rebounds. His last double-double came at Alabama with 16 points and 10 rebounds.
• Xavier Bledson tied his career-high in three-pointers with four. He made four triples in the win at home versus Tennessee State.

Postgame Press Conference Presented by Team Green Law



Postgame Radio Interview with Joey O'Rourke



Up Next
Indiana State heads to Iowa for a five-day trip to battle Northern Iowa on Sunday, January 7, followed by Drake University on Wednesday, January 10.

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