TERRE HAUTE, Ind. - Indiana State men's basketball battled Evansville on Saturday night but came up short in a 72-69 loss inside the Hulman Center.
 
Ian Scott led the way with a game-high 24 points and 11 rebounds for his fifth double-double of the season. Camp Wagner finished with 16 points, while Derek Vorst chipped in 10 points and nine rebounds. Wagner recorded a team-high three steals, and both Scott and Jo Van Buggenhout dished out three assists apiece.
 
Evansville scored first with a three-pointer, and the game featured four lead changes over the following three minutes. The Aces held a narrow advantage until Scott converted a second-chance hook shot to give Indiana State a 10-9 lead. The Sycamores maintained a slim edge behind baskets from Scott, Xavier Hall, and Sterling Young before Evansville evened the score at 16-16 with 10:13 remaining in the first half.
 
After a 2:41 scoreless stretch, Evansville regained the lead with a jumper. The teams traded leads throughout the next four minutes, combining for seven lead changes and three ties. Indiana State closed the stretch with a 15-14 advantage to make it 31-30 with 3:17 left in the half. The Sycamores then finished strong, using a 9-5 run fueled by Wagner (5), Vorst (2), and Young (2) to take a 38-35 lead into the locker room.
 
Evansville opened the second half with a three to tie the game, but Indiana State answered with a 5-3 run over the next three minutes. The Aces responded with a layup to even the score once again, then used a 9-5 run over a 3:46 stretch to regain control before Bruno Alocen halted the run with a three-pointer at the 10:24 mark.
 
Evansville pushed ahead 52-51 on a jumper and maintained a lead of no more than four points over the next 6:40 as the Sycamores continued to respond. Indiana State briefly reclaimed the lead when Ian Scott scored a three and Derek Vorst followed with two free throws to go up by one with 2:06 remaining. Evansville closed the game on a 7-3 run to secure the 72-69 win after Indiana State's last-second three-point attempt missed, narrowly denying the Sycamores a chance to force overtime.
 
News and Notes

• Indiana State recorded 40+ rebounds with 41 today for the first time since playing Bradley on December 18
  • The Sycamores tied their season high in offensive rebounds against a DI opponent with 14 (14 against SIUE on November 10)
  • The Sycamores allowed just two offensive rebounds for the Purple Aces, marking the fewest offensive rebounds by an opponent this season
• For the third game this season, the Sycamores have shot 13+ more free throws than their opponents (17-4 today, 43-27 vs. Bradley, and 34-16 vs. Illinois Tech)
• For the third straight game, the Sycamores' opponents have shot 50%+ from the field
• Today's 17.9% shooting from deep marks the lowest three-point shooting percentage for the Sycamores
  • Indiana State also recorded their lowest field goal percentage of 39.4% since shooting 33.3% against Louisiana Tech on November 19
• Ian Scott tied his season high with 24 points, also tying his MVC high and recording his fifth double-double
  • Scott also recorded a season high of 11 made field goals and 16 field goals attempted
• Camp Wagner tied his season high of three steals
  • This mark also set a new MVC high

Postgame press conference presented by Team Green Law


Up Next
Indiana State returns to action on Wednesday, January 10, hosting Illinois State inside the Hulman Center. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET.
 
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