INDIANA STATE OVERCOMES SLOW START TO TOP UNI, 61-57

 

INDIANA STATE OVERCOMES SLOW START TO TOP UNI, 61-57

Credit Source: Indiana State University Athletics

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa – After a slow start on the road, the Indiana State men’s basketball team won its seventh straight game Saturday, Feb. 6, leaning on senior Tyreke Key to pull out a tight contest at Northern Iowa, 61-57 in the McCleod Center.

Key tied a season-high with 31 points while shooting 66.7-percent (12-of-18) from the floor. The Celina, Tenn. native also pulled down a team-high seven rebounds and knocked down five-of-six from the charity stripe.

Even though UNI (5-12, 3-8 MVC) finished the game on a 9-5 run, ISU (11-7, 8-5 MVC) was able to overcome a three-point halftime deficit after trailing by as many as nine to pick up its seventh consecutive win. The seven game streak in Missouri Valley Conference play is the longest since the 1999-2000 campaign when the Sycamores also won seven.

Key’s 31 points paced Indiana State, with no other Sycamores finishing in double-digits in the score column. Sophomore Jake LaRavia made an impact with another well-rounded game, scoring eight points while adding four rebounds, four assists, three steals and a block. Junior Cooper Neese tacked on six points and four rebounds, while sophomore Tre Williams had four points, five rebounds, three steals and two blocks.

The ISU defense once again flexed its muscles, holding Northern Iowa to just 36.2 percent (21-of-58) from the floor and 29.2 percent (7-of-24) from the three-point line. The Sycamores also forced 17 turnovers on the night. Northern Iowa’s 57 points marked the fourth straight time that Indiana State’s defense has held opponents to under 60 points, a feat it hadn’t accomplished since 2010-11.

Indiana State itself shot 42 percent from the floor for the game despite a 25 percent (6-of-24) showing from beyond the three-point line.

Northern Iowa had a balanced scoring effort, with Trae Berhow and Austin Phyfe leading the way with 11 points apiece.

Indiana State finishes its two-game series with Northern Iowa Sunday, Feb. 5, with tip-off scheduled for 4 p.m. ET.

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