Defensive stand gives ISU Sycamores 66-65 win over intra-state rival Ball State

TERRE HAUTE, IN (12-13-2003) - Leading 66-65 with 13 seconds remaining in the game, the ISU men’s basketball team turned in a defensive stand in the final seconds, as Ball State was unable to get off a final shot, securing the win for the Sycamores. In a back-and-forth affair which saw five ties and five lead changes, it was the Sycamores who held on for the victory.

Sophomore David Moss (Chicago, Ill./Thornwood HS) scored a season-high 24 points, while Marcus Howard (Elgin, Ill.) pumped in 16 for ISU. The Sycamores finished the game with a season-high .537 (22-of-41) shooting percentage from the field.

Skip Mills led the Cardinals with 13 points, while Robert Owens and Cameron Echols added ten points apiece. BSU enjoyed a 30-23 rebounding advantage and outscored the Sycamores 30-12 in the paint. Ball State’s bench outscored ISU, 34-7.

The Sycamores (3-3) jumped out to an early 16-6 lead and controlled most of the first half, before Dennis Trammell’s jumper gave the Cardinals the lead (28-26) with 6:07 to play in the first half. BSU enjoyed a six point lead (35-29) before settling for a four-point advantage at halftime (37-33).

With the Cardinals (3-2) holding a 46-44 lead 4:40 into the second half, the Sycamores went on an 8-0 run on a basket from Tyson Schnitker (Robinson, Ill.) and back-to-back three pointers from Schnitker and Eric Gray (Chicago, Ill./Thornwood HS), to surge ahead 52-46. ISU built its lead to ten (56-46) before Ball State began to chip away.

The Trees led 66-60 with 1:27 left, when Terrance Chapman’s dunk cut the lead to four (66-62). After Catrel Green (Aurora, Ill.) missed the front end of a one-and-one, Trammell knocked down a three to cut ISU’s lead to one (66-65) with 1:13 left in the game.

The Sycamores return to action next Saturday (Dec. 20) when they travel to Indianapolis to face Butler University. Tip-off is set for 1:00 p.m., CST at Hinkle Fieldhouse. 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. Saturday's pregame show starts at 12:40 p.m. and the tip-off is at 1:00 p.m., CST / 2:00 p.m., EST.

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