Sycamores Drop Non-Conference Game to IPFW

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. - Poor shooting doomed the Indiana State Sycamores in a non-conference tilt versus IPFW, as the Mastodons escaped Hulman Center with a 54-46 victory. Indiana State dropped to 8-3 while IPFW improved to 3-11. The Mastodons used a time-consuming, ball-control offense that fueled their tenacious defense and kept ISU off kilter for the balance of the game. ISU shot just 31.9%, while IPFW hit 46.8%, many falling as the shot clock repeatedly ticked near zero. ISU showed signs of breaking through in the contest, when Jeremiah Wise drilled a 3-pointer with just over two minutes remaining to cut a 10-point IPFW lead down to just seven at 48-41. Gabriel Moore stole the ball on the Mastodons next possession, then scored in transition with a foul to make the score 48-44 with 1:44 showing on the clock. The Sycamores climbed back to within two when Trent Wurtz pulled down an offensive rebound in traffic and put the ball back in to make the score 48-46 at the 1:07 mark. IPFWs leading scorer DeWitt Scott poured in a the biggest three of his 17 points as the shot clock once again neared expiration to give the Mastodons a five-point cushion at 51-46 with 41 seconds remaining in the contest. ISU got wide-open 3-point looks on its next possession by Moore and Wise, but neither would fall as the Mastodons added three more charity tosses in the games final seconds to earn the 54-46 victory. ISU was led by Wurtz who scored 11 points and pulled down seven rebounds in the game. Moore scored nine, while Tyson Schnitker added eight in the contest. Off the bench Wise scored eight points, including a pair of 3-pointers late in the game. IPFW held at 32-20 advantage at the half. The Mastodons out-rebounded the Sycamores, 36-26 in a game that was tied on five occasions and saw six lead changes. Indiana State is next in action on Thursday, January 5 when the Sycamores return to MVC play against Southern Illinois. Tipoff is slated for 7:05 p.m. (EST).