ISU Sycamores top Purple Aces, 71-56

EVANSVILLE, IN (3-1-2004) - The Indiana State men’s basketball team snapped an eleven-game losing skid on Monday (March 1) by defeating the University of Evansville, 71-56. The win gives the Sycamores a season sweep over the Purple Aces. The Sycamores finished the game 27-of-54 (.500) from the floor, and enjoyed a 37-23 rebounding edge.

Four Sycamores finished the game in double figures. David Moss (Chicago, Ill./Thornwood HS) paced the Trees with 16 points, while Amani Daanish (Los Angeles, Calif./Cowley CC) scored 13 points and grabbed a game-high seven rebounds in the win. Senior Marcus Howard (Elgin, Ill.) came off the bench and scored eleven points for the Sycamores. Sophomore Eric Gray (Chicago, Ill./Thornwood HS) posted ten points in the Sycamore victory.

Cliff Cuffle scored a game-high 21 points for the Purple Aces (6-21, 5-13 MVC). Bradley Strickland scored ten points for Evansville, which finished the game 19-of-43 (.442) from the floor.

Indiana State (9-18, 5-13 MVC) enjoyed a 28-22 advantage on points scored in the paint. The Trees also outscored the Purple Aces 16-2 on second chance points, as ISU finished the game with eleven offensive rebounds.

The Sycamores and Purple Aces will square off on Friday in the opening round of the 2004 State Farm Missouri Valley Conference Tournament. Tip-off is set for noon at the Savvis Center in St. Louis, Mo. ISU enters the tournament as the number eight seed, while Evansville is the ninth seed.

The entire Sycamores' 2003-2004 men's basketball season will be carried live via Internet Audio streaming on USA-365.com. Brian Fritz calls the play-by-play and Jim Waugh provides the color commentary. Friday's pregame shows start at 11:40 a.m. and the tip-off is at 12:05 p.m., CST / 1:05 p.m., EST.

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