ISU Sycamores top Redbirds, 56-49

TERRE HAUTE, IN (1-10-2004) - The Indiana State men’s basketball team captured a 56-49 win over Illinois State on Saturday (Jan. 10) at Hulman Center. The Sycamores prevailed in a back-and-forth affair which saw seven lead changes. ISU finished 18-of-40 (.450) from the floor, while Illinois State connected on just 15-of-45 (.333) field goals.

Junior Amani Daanish (Los Angeles, Calif./Cowley CC) scored ISU’s first six points of the game and finished the contest with eleven points and a team-high seven rebounds. David Moss (Chicago, Ill./Thornwood HS) led the Sycamores with 14 points, despite connecting on just one field goal. Moss went 12-of-15 from the free throw line.

Illinois State’s Marcus Arnold led all scorers with 15 points. Chris Burras scored ten points and added seven rebounds off the bench. Trey Guidry and Gregg Alexander each chipped in with nine points for the Redbirds.

With the score tied 10-10 midway through the first half, Indiana State used an 8-3 run over a two-minute span to surge ahead 18-13. The Sycamores would settle for a two-point halftime advantage (26-24) after Wilfred Antoine (New Orleans, La./Coffeyville JC) nailed a jump shot with 49 seconds remaining in the opening stanza.

With 15:22 remaining in the second half, Chris Burras connected on two free throws to give the Redbirds a 30-29 lead. Three-point shots from Tyson Schnitker (Robinson, Ill.) and Russell Trudeau (Lafayette, Ind./Catholic Central HS) combined with a dunk from Catrel Green (Aurora, Ill./Feather River CC), gave the Sycamores an 8-0 run to move ahead 37-30.

Guidry hit a three-point shot with 4:30 left to cut the Sycamores’ lead to three (48-45), before a free throw from Jerod Adler (Monroe, Ind./Adams Central HS) and a jumper from Green gave the Trees a six-point cushion late in the game.

The Sycamores improve to 6-6 (2-2 MVC) on the season, while Illinois State falls to 4-8 (0-4) on the year. Indiana State hits the road for a two-game road swing. ISU travels to face Southwest Missouri State on Thursday (Jan. 15), before visiting the Wichita State Shockers on Saturday (Jan. 17). 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. Thursday's and Saturday's pregame shows start at 6:40 p.m. and both tip-offs are at 7:05 p.m., CST / 8:05 p.m., EST.

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