INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – Indiana State men's basketball made its public debut on Sunday evening inside the Hinkle Fieldhouse as the Sycamores opened the exhibition season against host Butler, falling to the Bulldogs 81-74 in a tightly contested game.
 
The Sycamores cut a 12-point second half deficit down to within a one-possession game with 7:15 to play in the contest as Indiana State rallied behind a strong performance from Karmani Gregory. Gregory scored 16 of his team-high 22 points over the second half as Indiana State cut a 55-43 Butler lead down to 65-63 with 7:15 to play thanks in part to a three-point barrage from Gregory (2), EJ McQuillan (2), and Maguire Mitchell over a three-minute stretch.
 
The Indiana State run saw McQuillan bank one in from the top of the key to cut the game back to within two points, before Butler's Jalen Jackson scored five consecutive points to stretch the Bulldogs lead back out.
 
Gregory and Jackson Cooper both converted from the free throw line to pull the game back to within four points at 71-67 with 5:23 to play in the contest, but the Bulldogs took the ball back inside the paint with Treyson Anderson and Jackson both converting baskets, before Anderson scored on a Sycamore turnover to stretch the Butler lead back to double-digits.
 
Indiana State scored late with DeShawn Denson II connecting on a three-pointer and a short jump shot, while EJ Hazelett III connected on a short jumper in the paint to provide the final 81-74 margin.
 
Neither team was able to establish a two-possession lead through the early part of the contest with Butler holding the 16-14 lead with 9:38 to play in the first half following a Cooper basket.
 
The Bulldogs went on an 8-0 run following the Sycamore conversion highlighted by Baron Walker's first three-pointer of the game and the Butler lead reached as many as 13 points at 37-24 on a Jackson layup at the 2:13 mark. Gregory converted a layup and Chance Puryear connected on a three-pointer in the final minute to send the teams into the break with Butler leading 37-29.
 
Gregory led all players with a game-high 22 points on 6-of-13 shooting, including 4-of-8 from the three-point line and 6-of-6 from the free throw line. Cooper (12) and Mitchell (10) both scored double-digit points in the contest, while six different Sycamores converted three-pointers in the contest. Chance Puryear added five points, eight rebounds, and three assists off the bench.
 
Jackson led Butler's offense with 19 points and added seven assists, while Jordan Ellerbee (14) and Drayton Jones (12) were both in double-digit scoring. Jones added a team-high nine rebounds.

Postgame Press Conference


Season Tickets On Sale Now
Indiana State Men's Basketball season tickets are now on sale online for the upcoming 2026-27 season. For more information regarding tickets, contact Mason LaGrange, Manager for Sale and Service, by calling 812-237-8972 or emailing Mason.Lagrange@indstate.edu. Fans can also call 877-ISU-TIXS or email ISU-Tickets@indstate.edu.
 
Up Next
Indiana State returns home for its final exhibition of the preseason on Saturday, October 24, as the Sycamores host Rose-Hulman inside the Hulman Center. Tipoff is set for 6 p.m. ET. The game will not be streamed.

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