Streaks come to an end with Sycamores' 63-54 win over Salukis

CARBONDALE, IL (2-1-2006) – The Sycamores used a career-best effort from Tyson Schnitker as a rejuvenated Indiana State squad snapped an 11-game losing streak with a 63-54 win over Southern Illinois in Carbondale on Wednesday night. The Sycamores put an end to the Saluki's 33-game home winning streak, which was the nation's longest entering the night.

In addition, Southern Illinois had won 42-straight conference home games dating back to February of 2001, ISU had dropped 10-straight games in the series with Southern Illinois, and had not won in Carbondale in 25 years dating back to a 75-70 victory over SIU on Jan. 18, 1981, a stretch of 24 games. But behind Schnitker’s career- high 24 points the Sycamores won on the road in conference for the first time in 15 games.

Schnitker hit 9-of-14 shots from the field, including two three pointers, in 32 minutes of action. Senior David Moss, in his second game back from a hamstring injury, was back to his old form with a solid all-around effort as he posted 13 points and eight rebounds in 35 minutes. The stingy Sycamore defense was another key to the night as they held the Saluki's to 37.0 percent shooting from the floor, including 25 percent from behind the arc.

The Salukis came quickly out of the gate and built a lead of 5-4 during the first three and a half minutes. However, it would be the last lead that the home team would see for the rest of the game as the Sycamores used a 10-1 run over the next five minutes and never looked back.

Southern Illinois would trim the Indiana State lead to one at the 5:31 mark in the first half, but ISU countered with a 13-5 run to end the half and take a 34-25 lead after the first 20 minutes.

Following the break the Sycamores maintained the lead and built it to as much as 15 in the final twenty minutes, while rebuffing a final surge by the Salukis for a 63-54 finish.

Indiana State out shot Southern Illinois 46-percent to 37-percent for the game and out rebounded the Salukis 40-31. In addition to Schnitker and Moss, Gabe Moore scored 10 points and dished out seven assists. Southern Illinois was led by Randal Falker with 21 points, 10 rebounds and five blocks in the losing effort.

The Sycamores improve to 9-11 overall and 2-10 in the MVC, while the Salukis slip into a four-way tie for first place in conference with an overall record of 16-6 and a league mark of 9-3.

The Sycamores will return to the court on Saturday when they travel to Cedar Falls, Iowa to face Northern Iowa, who is tied for first place in the MVC and was ranked No. 24 in the latest ESPN/USA Today Top 25 poll. USA-365.com provides live Internet audio streaming with Brian Fritz providing the play-by-play and Jim Waugh the color commentary. The pre-game show starts at 2:45 p.m. (CST), with the tip-off set for 3:05 p.m., CST / 4:05 p.m., EST on www.USA-365.com.

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