December 10, 2005 SYCAMORES SURVIVE BALL STATE 57-56 TERRE HAUTE, Ind. - Indiana State used a gritty effort on Saturday night to post a 57-56 victory over Ball State to remain perfect on the season. With the win ISU improves to 5-0 while the Cardinals fall to 3-2. ISU was led by David Moss with 13 points while the Cardinals were paced be Skip Mills with a game-high 22 points. The Sycamores overcame a season-low 35% shooting as the game was won on the free throw line for the Sycamores as they hit 19 of 25 after a total of 42 penalties were called on both teams. “I’m glad we dug it out in the end,” head coach Royce Waltman said, “but Ball State really came at us and it was a tough win.” Indiana State struggled in the first half finding their shot, shooting a 32% on 7-22 from the field. And despite Ball State shooting 11-23, including 4-7 from three point land, the Sycamores went into the half trailing only 26-24. ISU trailed most of the half and tied the score at 22 with 2:53 remaining in the half when junior Trent Wurtz hit a free throw after an easy lay-in. However, Ball State stretched the lead off baskets from junior D’Andre Peyton to take the lead into the half. Following the break, Indiana State cut the Cardinal lead to one at 16:29 when sophomore Gabe Moore hit a three-pointer, shaving the lead to 30-29. The Sycamores tied the game for the first time in the second half when junior Elliott Booe sank another ISU three, making it a 40-40 game with less than 10 minutes in the game. ISU took their first lead in the second half on two free throws from Wurtz with 5:15 on the clock, but both teams would yo-yo back and forth with the lead. The Sycamores would take the lead and hold it for the final two minutes and Moore hit a free throw with four tenths of a second remaining to seal the victory. The Sycamores are out to their fastest start in 20 years, starting
5-0 and will travel to Butler on December 17 looking to continue
their streak.
|