Late rally lifts Indiana State past Evansville
Sycamores win by 66-62 final
EVANSVILLE, Ind. – In a game that featured 11 lead changes, it was Indiana State making the final run as they defeated the University of Evansville men’s basketball team by a final of 66-62 on Saturday afternoon at the Ford Center.
Tayshawn Comer was the top scorer for the Purple Aces, finishing with 24 points and 7 assists. Tanner Cuff scored 11 while Josh Hughes and Connor Turnbull registered 10 apiece. Hughes led UE with 9 boards while Turnbull added 8. Jaden Daughtry registered a game-high 26 points for the Sycamores.
“I thought we did a good job with our energy. Our defensive game plan was excellent holding ISU under their average,” UE head men’s basketball coach David Ragland said. “There were a few possessions that changed everything down the stretch and those things are fixable. Our guys are understanding that mindset, playing physical and executing are what matters, and they have responded the right way since the break. We needed a chance to regroup and give ourselves a chance to win.”
After scoring a career-high of 26 points just three days ago, Tayshawn Comer was back at it, posting 12 points in the opening half. His triple set the Purple Aces up with a 5-2 lead in the opening moments while the Sycamores scored the next five to take their first lead at 7-5. Baskets from Josh Hughes and Kaia Berridge put the lead back in Evansville’s hands with a 13-9 edge at the 13:25 mark.
Just as fast as the Aces made their run, ISU came back to retake an 18-15 edge. The teams swapped the lead over the later moments of the period, leading to a 26-23 Sycamore lead with 3:28 on the clock. Evansville erupted to score 13 of the next 15 to take its largest lead of 36-28 inside the final minute. Cam Haffner, Comer, and Hughes each recorded a triple during the run. ISU scored the final basket of the period to make it a 36-31 game at the break.
Indiana State came out on fire to open the second half, quickly cutting the deficit to one as they scored six of the first eight points in the first two minutes of the second half. Evansville fended off the challenge, but with 12:18 remaining, Indiana State took its first lead of the period at 48-46. Just as they had done all game, the Aces battled back. A triple by Cuff was followed by a basket from Trent Hundley that gave UE a 51-48 edge with 9:47 left.
Another spurt by the Sycamores saw them score the next four to go back up by a point before a pair of free throws from Comer put UE back in front (53-52) with 5:19 remaining. It was Cuff and Comer who kept UE in the fight, overcoming a pair of ISU leads to tie the game at 57-57 entering the final three minutes.
In the ensuing possession, ISU retook the lead for what would be the final time. They led by as many as four, but UE had a chance. Two more Comer free throws cut the deficit to 62-60 at the 45-second mark. Following a Sycamore miss, UE corralled the rebound, but a turnover returned possession to ISU and they would hold on for the 66-62 win.
Both teams completed the game shooting 40.7% (22-of-54) while UE wrapped up the game with a 36-33 rebounding lead. The Aces are back at the Ford Center on Wednesday for a 7 p.m. game against Illinois State.
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