TERRE HAUTE —
Indiana State men’s basketball coach Greg Lansing did the rarest of things for a head coach entering Sunday’s Missouri Valley Conference opener against Illinois State.
He gave the Sycamores an excuse. The Sycamores decided to leave it on the table.
Weary after a three-day odyssey on the return trip from last week’s Diamond Head Classic in Hawaii, the Sycamores conjured up the energy to knock off Illinois State 77-75 in front of 5,808 at Hulman Center.
“We had rough travel and expended a lot of energy and effort in our games in Honolulu. I told the guys I’d give them one excuse; that’s their one for the year. It was a gutsy effort to hang on and pull it out,” ISU coach Greg Lansing said.
Not only did the Sycamores muster the energy, they often exceeded the Redbirds’ own output, despite the fact that Illinois State had eight days off prior to the game.
ISU (8-4, 1-0) outrebounded Illinois State 46-36 and shot six percentage points better than the Redbirds. Not bad for a team that went coast-to-coast, and then some, on its way back from Honolulu.
“I don’t know if the rest of the team realizes this, because most of them haven’t played a conference game, but starting 1-0 against the team picked second [in the MVC] is huge. We didn’t want to have a slip-up after the Hawaii tournament and lose at home. It’s a big one,” ISU point guard Jake Odum said.
ISU’s spark came from Justin Gant and Devonte Brown. Gant had his second career double-double with 18 points and 11 rebounds. Gant – who is playing with a broken front tooth suffered in ISU’s final game in Hawaii – was particularly aggressive in the first half when he had 13 points and eight rebounds.
“Coach told us we were going to have to be aggressive in transition and push. We were running out and point guards like Devonte and Odum were looking for me. I got in the right spot for the right shots,” Gant said.
Brown had his second strong game in a row for the Sycamores. He scored 12 points and had seven rebounds. He went to the line 12 times, though he only made six of them.
“I’m just trying to be a spark. Coming off the bench, I have to give a start to something. Anything I can do to scrap and give us something offensively and defensively, that’s what I have to do,” Brown said.
Odum contributed 17 points and six assists. Manny Arop had 10 points. Jon Ekey led Illinois State (9-4, 0-1) with 16 points. Talented big man Jackie Carmichael had 13 points and 14 rebounds, though he only converted 4 of 15 from the field.
Despite the fact that the Sycamores controlled most of the game, they still had to hang on for dear life at the end.
ISU led by 11 with 3:41 left and 75-67 with 1:43 left. The Sycamores seemed well on their way to victory, but one slip up – ISU missed five of its last nine free throw attempts – nearly allowed the Redbirds to steal a victory.
Zeke Upshaw, who had averaged 5.4 minutes per game for the Redbirds, came to Illinois State’s rescue. He hit consecutive 3-pointers to make it 73-70 with 33 seconds left.
The Sycamores’ heart continued to jump out of their chest as they couldn’t put the Redbirds away at the line. Arop made one of two with 29.9 ticks left and Bryant Allen converted a layup with 17 seconds left to make it 76-75.
Gant was fouled with 6.6 seconds left, but he too could only make one of two at the line. ISU led 77-75, but the Redbirds had a chance to win it.
They nearly did. Freshman guard Nick Zeisloft let fly from nearly 30 feet with 3 seconds left and his shot was just barely short. ISU rebounded the miss and breathed a sigh of relief.
“A loss would’ve been crushing. It would’ve sucked the wind out of you, but it didn’t happen. We have to learn from it, hit our free throws and keep attacking the rim,” Odum said.
Until the final Illinois State surge, the Sycamores had more or less enjoyed a comfortable margin for most of the contest.
Illinois State led 13-11, but ISU pounded the ball inside – Carmichael had picked up his second foul – to build a gap. Arop converted a traditional three-point play and banked in an off-balance jumper to make it 16-13.
Then Gant took over.
The sophomore scored three consecutive buckets to help fuel an 11-0 ISU run that put the Sycamores in front 22-13. All points were scored in the paint, including a no-look reverse layup.
Illinois State rallied to tie it at 27 with 4:38 left in the half. But the Redbirds would not score again before halftime. ISU’s defense clamped down and the Redbirds couldn’t convert their jumpers. ISU finished the half on a 7-0 run to take a 34-27 halftime lead. Illinois State failed to score on its last eight first half possessions.
ISU built on the momentum in the second half. Though the ISU lead never exceeded 11, the Redbirds – who shot 37.l percent from the field – could never get a foothold and could not cut its margin to less than five in the first 18 minutes of the second half.
Illinois State pressed for much of the second half, and its trapping did give ISU some trouble, the Sycamores took advantage of the opening driving lanes to get easy buckets in the paint.
Leading by 11 with 3:41 left, ISU slowed down its offense and worked the clock. ISU did not convert a field goal in the final 3:41 of the contest.
Illinois State punched back, but couldn’t land a knockout blow.
“Penetration hurt us. Sometimes it’s about guarding the ball, which leads to rebounding. We’re not locked in as a group, and when that happens, and the other team becomes the aggressor, they certainly killed us on the boards,” Illinois State coach Dan Muller said.
The win over Illinois State was vital for ISU as its next two games are on the road. ISU plays at Northern Iowa on Wednesday and at Creighton on Saturday.
ILLINOIS STATE (75) – Ekey 4-8 6-8 16, Carmichael 4-15 5-8 13, T. Brown 3-12 2-2 11, Allen 4-9 0-0 9, Hill 2-4 4-4 9, Keane 0-2 0-0 0, Wilkins 0-1 0-0 0, Zeisloft 3-5 0-0 8, Upshaw 3-6 0-1 9, Threloff 0-0 0-0 0. 23-62 FG, 17-23 FT, 75 TP.
INDIANA STATE (77) – Mahurin 2-5 4-5 8, Gant 8-13 1-2 18, Arop 4-11 2-3 10, Cummings 1-8 1-1 3, Odum 4-5 7-8 17, Kitchell 2-4 0-0 4, Eitel 1-3 0-0 3, D. Brown 3-5 6-12 12, Burnett 0-0 0-0 0, K. Smith 1-6 0-0 2. 26-60 FG, 21-31 FT, 77 TP.
Halftime score – ISU 34-27. 3-point goals – ILS 12-29 (T. Brown 3-9, Upshaw 3-5, Ekey 2-5, Zeisloft 2-3, Allen 1-5, Hill 1-1, Carmichael 0-1), ISU 4-11 (Odum 2-2, Gant 1-2, Eitel 1-2, Arop 0-2, Cummings 0-2, Mahurin 0-1). Rebounds – ILS 36 (Carmichael 14, Ekey 6, T. Brown 3, Hill 3, Keane 3, Allen 2, Wilkins, Zeisloft, Upshaw, Threloff, Team), ISU 46 (Gant 11, D. Brown 7, Odum 5, Mahurin 4, Arop 4, Kitchell 4, K. Smith 4, Cummings 3, Eitel 3, Team), Assists – ILS 16 (Allen 5, Ekey 4, T. Brown 3, Hill 2, Carmichael, Zeisfloft), ISU 15 (Odum 6, K. Smith 3, D. Brown 2, Mahurin, Gant, Kitchell, Eitel), Steals – ILS 8 (Hill 3, Carmichael 2, T. Brown 2, Upshaw), ISU 5 (Odum 3, Cummings, D. Brown), Blocks – ILS 5 (Ekey 2, Carmichael 2, T. Brown), ISU 2 (Gant, Arop), Turnovers – ILS 11 (Ekey 3, Hill 3, Carmichael 2, T. Brown, Keane, Wilkins), ISU 12 (Odum 4, Gant 2, Arop 2, Cummings 2, D. Brown 2), Total fouls – ILS 22, ISU 17. Fouled out – T. Brown, Hill. A – 5808.
Next – ISU (8-4, 1-0) plays at Northern Iowa and Illinois State (9-4, 0-1) plays host to Creighton on Wednesday.
Indiana State University
No excuses for Sycamores
Illinois State beaten by weary Indiana State in Missouri Valley Conference opener
- Indiana State University
-
-
ISU baseball hoping Manaea can get its MVC Tournament moving in right direction
Indiana State’s baseball team has been waiting all season for its stars to align.
But this is the 2013 Sycamores, after all, and after a season in which seemingly little has gone right, it appears its stars will remain crossed at the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament. -
ISU sending largest group yet to postseason
On the heels of their thrilling double victory at the 2013 Missouri Valley Conference Outdoor Track & Field Championships both the Indiana State men and women moved up in the national rankings which were released Tuesday by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA).
-
ISU's athletic treasure trove
Think of every championship that Indiana State has won in each of its sports, past and present. Think of every tournament — postseason or regular season — which the Sycamores have claimed as their own.
-
Ort sets ISU RBI record in 16-7 win
Robby Ort celebrated his Indiana State baseball Senior Day on Saturday by becoming the Sycamores’ all-time leader in RBIs as ISU ended its regular season with a 16-7 win over Bradley at Bob Warn Field.
-
Bradley ends 16-game MVC losing streak against ISU
Momentum was the only thing riding on Indiana State’s baseball game against Bradley on Friday. With a five-game winning streak going, ISU wanted to keep the good vibes going into next week’s Missouri Valley Conference Tournament.
ISU couldn’t do it. -
Indiana State to host 2014 MVC baseball tourney
Build it… and they will come. The Missouri Valley Conference and Indiana State University made that famous line from the movie “Fields Of Dreams” reality Thursday.
-
Behind 16 hits and Manaea's pitching, ISU beats Bradley
Indiana State’s baseball team rode a wild ride of emotion on Thursday.
First came the public announcement that Bob Warn Field would host the 2014 Missouri Valley Conference Tournament. Later, Sean Manaea’s availability to pitch ISU’s series opener against Bradley was in doubt. -
TODD GOLDEN: Don't give up on ISU baseball just yet
If you had to pick one word that would describe the 2013 Indiana State baseball season, it would have to be frustration.
-
ISU baseball team builds on success with 14-2 rout
Indiana State’s baseball victory over Alcorn State on Friday would take on more meaning Saturday if the Sycamores could build momentum and pick up on the good work they did in Friday’s ninth-inning rally.
Mission accomplished.
The Sycamores were aggressive from the opening inning at the plate and starting pitcher Devin Moore gave them eight valuable and effective innings on the mound as ISU defeated Alcorn State 14-2 at Bob Warn Field.
“It was a really good experience for everybody. It felt great to finally come out here and put some things together. It’s also really nice when your offense puts a lot of runs on the board,” Moore said.
Moore’s eight innings of work were as valuable as gold to an ISU team that is short on quality arms due to injury and ineffectiveness. He didn’t allow a hit until the fourth inning and one of the two runs he conceded was unearned. -
ISU earns badly-needed win
Alcorn State’s baseball team might be ranked in the bottom 10 in RPI and Indiana State might have never lost to a Southwestern Athletic Conference team. So it wouldn’t appear that a quality win was in the offing when Alcorn State visited Bob Warn Field on Friday.
-
ISU’s Mascari and Hope win MVC track & field titles
Indiana State produced two champions during the opening day of action in the Missouri Valley Conference track and field championships Friday at Drake. Freshman John Mascari, a Terre Haute native, won the men’s 10,000-meter race and Nicole Hope won the women’s pole vault for the second time in three seasons.
-
ISU pole vault tradition continues with help from its author
Pole vault is track and field for the adrenaline junkie, Indiana State senior Nicole Hope proclaimed during a recent practice at Marks Field.
To catapult oneself about 14 feet into the air with a large $500 fiberglass pole on a daily basis is a risky endeavor.
“We have to be fearless. You can’t be afraid at all,” said Hope, who has also catapulted herself into the NCAA’s elite in the event, ranking 15th in the NCAA with her leap of 13-feet, 9 1/4. -
Lansing looking for more home games for next fall
Indiana State’s men’s basketball team is looking for a few good games.
Home games that is.
The Sycamores have filled in most of the blanks in their nonconference schedule, but as ever, ISU coach Greg Lansing would like to visit the friendly confines of Hulman Center a bit more often. -
ISU baseball gets back into rhythm with victory
Baseball is a rhythm game. With contests every day or five times a week in the case of many college programs, you have the chance to build on success or wallow in a slump.
Mother Nature took that rhythm away from Indiana State’s team last week. After a 7-1 loss to Indiana on April 24, ISU was supposed to play a three-game series at Tennessee-Martin, but it was wiped out by rain.
So the rhythm was disturbed, but perhaps that wasn’t a bad thing.
ISU was in a five-game losing streak before its unintended vacation and the Sycamores made a move in the right direction Wednesday with a 7-0 win over DePauw at Bob Warn Field.
“It was a disappointing weekend. We went all the way down to Tennessee and didn’t get to play. We sat around in the hotel room. We came here and it was still raining. It was nice to get out and see some live pitching,” ISU center fielder Landon Curry said. -
Metro roundup: ISU hands out spring awards
The Indiana State University athletic community, along with family, friends and fans, paused Tuesday night to honor the spring sports teams at the Terre Haute Savings Bank Spring Sports Banquet.
Most of the ISU teams are still in competition with the baseball team having 13 games left of its regular-season schedule before beginning the Missouri Valley Conference tournament May 21, the softball team with just three games left of the docket this coming weekend against Southern Illinois and the track and field program with just one more meet before beginning its postseason events.
The ISU women’s golf team is the team that has ended at this time, with the group recording a sixth-place finish at the MVC championships one week ago. -
Indiana State loses 2 in MVC softball
Indiana State aspired to upset Illinois State to get at least a doubleheader split in Missouri Valley Conference softball Thursday at Price Field as the Sycamores opened an eight-game season-ending homestand.
Paige Schreiner hit a two-run blast over the left-field fence in the fifth inning and junior Shelby Wilson delivered a sizzling RBI triple down the right-field line in the sixth as ISU ended the day playing well against the league’s highest-scoring offense.
The result was still a 5-3 loss to the Redbirds (26-18, 11-6 Missouri Valley Conference) as freshman Halle Humphrey gave up four runs in the first two innings. Humphrey, called upon to pitch the opener as well — she’s the only full-time pitcher remaining on the team — gave up six runs and eight hits as the Sycamores dropped a 6-1 game to start the day. -
ISU, MVFC brace for change at FCS football level
It seemed so far-fetched.
Internet rumors circulated that Indiana State had been approached by the Sun Belt Conference to bring the Sycamores’ football team into the Sun Belt’s fold.
The Sun Belt is part of the Football Bowl Subdivision. Bowl football. Big boy football … and all it entails.
-
ISU football in good spirits after healthy Spring Game
Was Saturday afternoon’s weather an omen for Indiana State football as the Sycamores wrapped up spring practice with the annual Blue-White Game at Memorial Stadium? After several practices conducted in less-than-perfect conditions, they’d like to think so.
-
Loyola ready to take big step
Loyola University and the Missouri Valley Conference took their first steps together Friday and the MVC is hoping the Ramblers don’t have to take too many baby steps before they become a competitive part of the conference.
-
Sanford wraps up first spring with ISU
The final day of Indiana State football’s first Mike Sanford experience is upon the Sycamores.
-
Lansing excited about Etherington's signing with Sycamores
The spring signing period for men’s basketball is usually a time to use available scholarships to load up on junior college additions and transfers.
To find a diamond-in-the-rough at the high school level who can give you four years? That’s harder to come by. -
Creighton sweep puts ISU in thick of things
In a difficult early-season Missouri Valley Conference schedule, Indiana State took its lumps. Unenviable back-to-back trips to contenders Missouri State and Wichita State had ISU reeling with five straight MVC losses eight days ago.
-
Second City in the Valley: Loyola joins the MVC
For the first time in its history, the Missouri Valley Conference will have a home in the Second City.
The Chicago Tribune confirmed Saturday via a Loyola University source that the Ramblers will replace Creighton as the MVC’s 10th team. Loyola — a member of the Horizon League — will join the MVC effective July 1.
Indiana State Director of Athletics Ron Prettyman — who was part of the MVC search committee that scouted potential replacements for Creighton — confirmed Sunday that the Ramblers were in the MVC loop. -
Sycamore baseball holds off Creighton rally
By his own estimation, Indiana State baseball coach Rick Heller has been involved in close to 2,000 baseball games. If anyone has seen it all on the field, he’d be as good a candidate as any.
-
Devin Moore pitches gem in 6-1 victory over Creighton
A hip injury suffered by Indiana State ace starting pitcher Sean Manaea shuffled the Sycamores’ starting rotation for the second weekend running as it opened a Missouri Valley Conference home series against Creighton on Friday.
-
Sanford gets 2nd look at Sycamores
In the immediate aftermath of a practice, game, or in Friday’s case for Indiana State, a scrimmage, most football coaches defer to the film to paint a true picture of what was and wasn’t done. ISU coach Mike Sanford is no different. With the flurry of activity on both sides of the ball, it’s hard to get a true evaluation of anything watching it live.
-
ISU center FN Lutz glad to be back in the middle of things
For someone who missed an entire season due to a knee injury, Indiana State center FN Lutz has certainly kept himself visible since then.
-
METRO ROUNDUP: ISU's Brandon Pounds the top collegian in Sea Ray relays
Indiana State senior Brandon Pounds was the top collegian in the men’s hammer throw and fellow senior Felisha Johnson opened up the Sycamores’ three-day competition at the University of Tennessee’s Sea Ray relays with a second-place finish in the women’s hammer throw.
-
Stealing records: ISU softball’s offense gaining momentum
The Indiana State softball offense is no juggernaut, but the fog may be clearing on a program that has had a long history of struggles with few signs of consistent winning.
Explosive, dedicated athletes like Morgan Allee and Megan Stone are two reasons to believe this group of Sycamores can spark a turnaround.
The Sycamores are scoring an average of 3.1 runs per game while also ranking in the middle of the Missouri Valley Conference pack in hits and batting average. But the Sycamores are on pace to break the school record for on-base percentage as they lead the MVC in walks, hit-by-pitches, sacrifice bunts and stolen bases.
Allee, with 17 regular-season games to go, broke the school record for stolen bases in a season Tuesday against IUPUI and is among the 10 best in the NCAA. Her total of 30 makes up almost half of ISU’s 74.
“I’m so big [that] they think I won’t go. It works out well,” the stocky shortstop said. -
ISU’s QB battle
Quarterback battles come in all shapes and sizes, but one could forgive Indiana State’s Mike Perish, Robert Tonyan Jr. and Trent Lancaster if they feel a bit more beleaguered than your average signal-caller.
Not only is the trio fighting for the right to be named ISU’s starter by the Sycamores’ football opener Aug. 29 at Indiana University, but all three also are trying to learn a new offense, they’re acclimating themselves to new coach Mike Sanford’s different way of running things, and they’re trying to maintain harmony amongst each other, so whoever the ultimate winner is can effectively lead the team without angst.
All of it is playing out during ISU’s spring practice, and so far, none of the quarterback candidates have separated themselves from the pack. - More Indiana State University Headlines
-
Johnson: Don't Blame Islam or UK Policy
Okla. Teens Get Video of Deadly Tornado Overhead
Raw: Aftermath of Deadly Attack in London
Texas Students Coach Teachers on Fitness
Raw: Scuffles in London After Hacking Death
Chain-Reaction School Bus Crash Injures About 50
Britain Attack Believed Linked to Radical Islam
Raw: 80-Year-Old Climbs Mount Everest
Wash. State Man Arrested Following Ricin Scare
Meet MJ, the Bike Riding Tabby Cat
Man Shot While Questioned in Boston Probe
New Forecasting Tool Eyed for Hurricane Season
Raw: Kevin Durant Tours Moore After $1M Pledge
Weiner Launches Bid to Become NYC Mayor
Oklahoma Family Reflects on Lost Son
Today in History May 23
School Storm Protection Spotty in Tornado Zones
Moore Native Toby Keith Tours Tornado Damage
9-year-old Tornado Victim Loved Family, Singing
Oklahoma Survivors, Heroes Survey Damage
AK-47-wielding thug may be the most bumbling crook ever
Trout's cycle a boost for Angels
Raw: New Video of Deadly Oklahoma Tornado
Kim Kardashian Flaunts Pregnant Bikini Body in Greece
NBA star pledges $1M to help tornado recovery
Shakira's Shocking Talent
Morgan Freeman falls asleep on air
GRAPHIC: Blood-Soaked Machete Killer Caught on Tape
Elin Nordegren Furious With Lindsey Vonn For Parading Kids in Public
Camera Captures Climber As He Loses Grip And Falls
Helen Mirren Meets with Dying Boy in Queen Elizabeth's Place
Crowd Chants '¡Si, Se Puede!' After Passage of Immigration Bill
DWTS Crowns a Winner
Police Ram House to End Hostage Standoff
Demi Moore a Rocks Bikini at Harry Morton's Family House
Anthony Weiner: I'm running for New York City mayor
Kate Middleton's Dress Flies Up
VIRAL: Baby makes epic soccer goal
The Hangover Baby All Grown Up
