ISU notches 1st win over SMS in 9-tries, 74-72 in OT

TERRE HAUTE, IN (2-15-2005) – Jerod Adler led five Sycamores in double-figures, scoring a team-high 15 points to help the Indiana State men's basketball team to a 74-72 overtime victory over the visiting SMS Bears Tuesday (Feb. 15) night at Hulman Center. The win snaps SMS's seven-game winning streak. The Trees move to 10-16 (5-10 MVC) on the season, while SMS falls to 14-9 (8-7 MVC).

The Sycamores led by eight (60-52) with 4:02 to play in regulation before SMS scored seven unanswered points to cut the ISU lead to one (60-59). After Adler extended the lead to three with two free throws with 1:29 remaining, the Bears' Kellen Easley answered by hitting a jumper with 1:00 to go. On ISU's next possession, Russell Trudeau was fouled and sent to the charity stripe, where he extended the lead to three with 25 seconds to go. Deke Thompson hit the tying three pointer with eleven seconds remaining to send the game to overtime.

David Moss scored six points in the extra period, including a three-pointer with 1:09 remaining to put the Sycamores up 72-69, a lead which they would not relinquish the rest of the way.

The win snapped an ISU eight-game losing streak to SMS. The last victory for the Sycamores over the Bears was Jan. 31, 2001 at the Hulman Center.

Adler made a career-high 11 free throws and posted six rebounds, three blocks and three steals. Amani Daanish and Russell Trudeau each added 12 points for the Sycamores. David Moss finished with 11 points and Gabriel Moore was the fifth Sycamore in double-figures with 10 points in the winning effort.

Blake Ahearn paced SMS with 23 points on 6-of-12 shooting from the field. Deke Thompson and Kellen Easley each chipped in 10 points, while Anthony Shavies added nine points and a team-high six assists for the Bears.

ISU finished the game shooting 45.7 percent (21-of-46). Conversely, the Bears made 22-of-53 shots (.415) from the field. The Sycamores turned 16 SMS turnovers into 14 points, while the Bears scored 10 points off of the 13 Sycamores' turnovers.

The Sycamores will hit the road for the next two games, beginning at Drake next Tuesday (Feb. 22). USA-365.com provides live Internet audio streaming with Brian Fritz providing the play-by-play and Jim Waugh with the color commentary. The pre-game show starts Tuesday, Feb. 22 at 6:40 p.m., CST (7:40 p.m., EST) with the tip-off set for 7:05 p.m., CST (8:05 p.m., EST) on www.USA-365.com.

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