Sycamores Battle Ball State Saturday

Sycamores Battle Ball State Saturday

Credit Source: Indiana State University Athletics

TERRE HAUTE, IND. — The Indiana State University men’s basketball team looks to end its two-game losing skid as in-state rival Ball State University visits the Hulman Center Saturday, Dec. 19 for a 1 p.m. tip. The game will be broadcast on ESPN3 and WIBQ 97.9.

MARCH ON LOYALTY REWARDS
Saturday’s showdown against Ball State will give fans the opportunity to win a prize pack from Gatorade and Sycamore Athletics if they virtually check in to the event on the March On Loyalty Rewards App. Check in will be live from 1:00-3:30 p.m. and the winner will be notified after the game. To download the March On app, CLICK HERE.

BATTLE TESTED
The Sycamores non-conference schedule to date has been one of the toughest in college basketball. In fact, according to KenPom, the Trees have taken on the fourth-best schedule in the country, with their opponents coming in at No. 1 in average adjusted offensive efficiency (110.8) and No. 2 in average adjusted defensive efficiency (89.4).

KEY CONTINUES HIS CLIMB
Senior Tyreke Key put togehter a well-rounded game against Saint Louis, scoring 16 points while dishing out four assists and grabbing three boards. The Celina, Tenn. native has now scored 1,293 points over his four-year Indiana State career and needs just six points to pass Dan McDonald (1947-50) for 16th all-time and nine to move into the top-15 in program history.

CASHING IN AT THE CHARITY STRIPE
Indiana State has done its best to live at the free throw line this season, going to the charity stripe 19, 13, and 20 times this season. The Sycamores shot a season-best 75 percent (15-of-20) from the line in their road loss to undefeated Saint Louis.

RIGHTING THE RIVALRY
Indiana State and Ball State have played 135 times in program history, with the Sycamores holding the edge by 10 games (72-62). The Cardinals, however, have had the upper hand in the in-state rivalry of late, winning each of the last three games. Head Coach Greg Lansing is 5-5 all-time against BSU, including a 3-1 mark when playing in the Hulman Center.

HULMAN CENTER DOMINANCE
ISU continued its winning ways inside Hulman Center with an 80-66 season-opening victory over Truman State, Dec. 8. Indiana State went 12-1 at Hulman Center in 2019-20, the best mark under head coach Greg Lansing. The Sycamores had not won 10 games or more at home since 2015-16 season. Out of the 13 home games in 2019-20, Indiana State held opponents to 60 points or less in nine, with six of the nine contests being Missouri Valley Conference games.

KEYED IN AGAINST THE CARDINALS
Tyreke Key will look to continue his success against Ball State in his fourth career game against the Cardinals. The guard has averaged 13 points, 3.7 rebounds and 2.7 assists while shooting 45 percent (5-of-11) from beyond the three-point line.
Key’s best game against BSU came in Muncie during the 2018-19 campaign when he scored 16 points and pulled down seven rebounds.

 

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