FIVE STRAIGHT! SYCAMORES TOP BRADLEY 60-57

FIVE STRAIGHT! SYCAMORES TOP BRADLEY 60-57

Credit Source: Indiana State University Athletics

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – A bucket by Jake LaRavia with just over one minute to play broke a late tie and helped lift Indiana State to a 60-57 victory over Bradley Sunday evening in Hulman Center. The win marked the fifth in a row for the Sycamores.

ISU (9-7, 6-5 MVC) appeared to have BU (9-9, 3-6 MVC) on the ropes, leading by 10 points with 14 minutes to play. But the Braves battled back and took a one-point, 57-56 lead with 2:37 to go. The Sycamores defense locked up after that bucket, holding Bradley scoreless the rest of the way.

LaRavia and Tyreke Key led Indiana State in scoring on the night, each dropping in 12 points. No other Sycamores finished in double-figures, but ISU saw contributions from throughout the lineup. Cooper Neese and Cobie Barnes each scored nine points, while Cam Bacote added six points and two assists off the bench. LaRavia fell one rebounds short of a double-double, hauling down nine on the night, and also swiped a career-best four steals.

Indiana State shot 39.2 percent (20-of-51) from the floor for the game and won the rebounding battle by nine, 39-30. Though Bradley shot 45.3 percent (24-of-53) for the game, the Sycamores held them to just 18.8 (3-of-16) from the three-point line, while shooting 35 percent (7-of-20) themselves. ISU added 15 assists on 20 made shots, marking its fifth consecutive game with 10-or-more assists.

Bradley had three players in double figures, with Ville Tahvanainen leading all scorers with 17.

Indiana State and Bradley return to action Monday, Feb. 1 with a 5 p.m. game in Hulman Center. The game can be found on ESPN3.