SYCAMORES GET BACK ON TRACK WITH 76-70 WIN AT EVANSVILLE

SYCAMORES GET BACK ON TRACK WITH 76-70 WIN AT EVANSVILLE

Credit Source: Indiana State University Athletics

EVANSVILLE, Ind. – The Indiana State men’s basketball team took care of business on the road Sunday afternoon, winnings its seventh consecutive game over Evansville thanks to a 29-point performance from senior Tyreke Key on the way to a 76-70 victory in the Ford Center.

The win marks the 100^th in Missouri Valley Conference play for the Sycamores under the leadership of Greg Lansing, making Lansing just the 11^th coach in the 144-year history of the Valley to reach the century mark.
Key’s 29 points helped the Celina, Tenn. native leap frog into sixth place on the Indiana State all-time scoring list. The guard passed No. 8 Jordan Barnes, No. 7 David Moss, and No. 6 Jake Odum on the afternoon, and currently sits 87 points behind Butch Wade at No. 5.

Joining Key in the scoring column was sophomore Jake LaRavia, who poured in 20 points for ISU. It marked the first time since Feb. 26, 2020 that two Sycamores scored 20-or-more points in the same contest (Barnes and Key at SIU). No other Indiana State player cracked double-digits, but sophomore Tre Williams put together a well-rounded game of seven points, seven rebounds, and a career-high four assists.

Both teams were red hot shooting in the game, as ISU (12-8, 9-6 MVC) shot 59.6 percent (28-of-47) overall, while UE (8-11, 6-7 MVC) was 54.3 percent (25-of-46) from the floor. The Sycamores forced Evansville into 15 turnovers and committed just 13 of their own, while dominating points in the paint, 42-24.

Evansville led by as many as eight points in the first half, but Indiana State battled back and took a slim two-point lead into halftime thanks to a jumper by Key at the buzzer. It ended a high-scoring half that saw the Sycamore shoot 56 percent (14-of-25) from the floor and the Purple Aces a blistering 66.7 percent (14-of-21).

The Purple Aces had four players in double-figures with Jawaun Newton and Shamar Givance leading the way with 14 points apiece.

Indiana State finishes its non-traditional back-to-back as it plays host to Evansville Wednesday, Feb. 17 on Senior Night at Hulman Center, beginning at 5 p.m. ET.

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.