INDIANA STATE CAN’T KEEP PACE WITH UNBEATEN DRAKE, FALLS 81-63

 

INDIANA STATE CAN’T KEEP PACE WITH UNBEATEN DRAKE, FALLS 81-63

Credit Source: Indiana State University Athletics

TERRE HAUTE, IND. — The Indiana State men’s basketball team struggled to keep up with the dynamic Drake offense Sunday, Dec. 27, falling to the undefeated Bulldogs in the Missouri Valley Conference opener 81-63 in the Hulman Center.

 

There’s no time to dwell on the outcome, however, as the two Valley foes will play one another again Monday, Dec. 28 at 5 p.m. The game will be broadcast on ESPN3 and on WIBQ 97.9 FM.

 

Junior Cooper Neese and sophomore Tre Williams led four Indiana State double-digit scorers with 13 points apiece. Neese knocked down four from long-range while adding three rebounds, and Williams tacked on four boards. Senior Tyreke Key and fifth-year Tobias Howard Jr. each added 10 points. Sophomore Jake LaRavia finished with nine points and grabbed a season-high 12 rebounds.

 

Drake was led in scoring by guard D.J. Wilkins, who put up 22 points thanks to 5-of-7 shooting from downtown.

 

The Sycamores looked as if they had found their footing against the Bulldogs’ potent offense, erasing an double-digit deficit to take a two-point lead, 28-26, thanks to a Neese triple with 3:18 to play in the first half. The offense went stale, however, and managed just one field goal the rest of the stanza, and went into the break trailing 31-30.

 

Indiana State regained the lead within the first 60 seconds of the second half, but Drake took control from there as the Bulldogs went on a 12-2 run over the next five minutes and never looked back.

 

ISU shot 38.8% (19-of-49) from the floor for the game, while allowing Drake to shoot a blistering 54.1% (33-of-61) overall and 50% (9-of-18) from downtown. The Bulldogs controlled almost every aspect of the game, scoring more points in the paint (42-22), winning the rebound battle (37-26), and finishing with more assists (13-7). The Sycamores managed more fast break points (13-4) and fewer turnovers (13-12).

 

The Sycamores will leave town for their first Missouri Valley Conference road contest next weekend, taking on Missouri State University in Springfield, Mo. Saturday, Jan. 2 at 6 p.m. and Sunday, Jan 3 at 4 p.m.

For the latest information on Sycamore Basketball, be sure to visit GoSycamores.com. You can also find the team on social media, including Twitter, FacebookInstagram and YouTube.

 

Be the first to comment

Leave a Reply