VALPARAISO, Ind. -- An early second half run by Valparaiso proved to be too much to overcome as the Sycamores fell 89-71 to Valparaiso on Saturday night inside the Athletics-Recreation Center.
The Sycamores fell to 5-6 on the year while Valparaiso improved to 9-2.
Everett Clemons set a new career-high in the game with 19 points to lead the way for the Sycamores. Clemons hit 6-of-8 shots from the field, including his only 3-point attempt.
Brenton Scott scored 18 for the Sycamores and moved into third place all-time at ISU in career 3-pointers made with 162. Emondre Rickman recorded five rebounds to lead the Trees.
Indiana State scored first in the game when
Brandon Murphy connected on a pair of free throws on the first possession. The two teams went back and forth when an
Emondre Rickman jumper at the 15:25 mark staked the Sycamores to a 9-8 advantage. The Crusaders scored seven in a row before Scott connected on a charity toss at the 13:43 mark to get within 15-10. A 3-pointer from Alec Peters pushed the Valpo lead out to 21-14, but the Sycamore defense clamped down and did not allow a field goal over the next five minutes. The Sycamores got five points in a row from Clemons to trim the deficit down to just 21-19 with 9:01 on the clock. Clemons and Franklin then went back-to-back with connections from the 3-point line around the eight minute mark as ISU took a 25-23 lead.
Valpo answered the Sycamores run with eight points of their own for a 31-25 cushion before Scott drilled a baseline jumper with 4:49 remaining to get within four points. The Crusaders would run their lead out to 41-31 before Matt Van Sycoc was fouled on a 3-point attempt at the buzzer and hit 2-of-3 free throws to send the Sycamores into the locker room down 41-33. Clemons led the way for the Sycamores in the first half with 12 points. Each team hit 12-of-30 shots from the field in the first 20 minutes (40 percent).
The Crusaders connected on three of their first four shots from the field in the second half to start out on a 7-0 run and take a 48-33 lead with just over 18 minutes on the clock to force a Sycamores timeout. The run would eventually reach 20-0 as the Sycamores missed each of their first nine shots from the field. Scott broke through for the Sycamores with 13:38 left in the game with a charity toss to trim the Valpo lead down to 61-34. Scott then converted the Sycamores' first field goal after the break with 13:21 to play to make it 61-37. Scott made it seven in a row for the Sycamores with another 3-pointer to trim the deficit down to 62-40 as he reached double figures scoring. Scott also moved past Eddie Bird for the 3rd most 3-pointers in a career with 162 with that trifecta.
Clemons hit a pair of free throws with 4:57 remaining as he tied his career high. Then after recording a steal, Clemons scored on a fast break to set a new career-high.
Laquarious Paige scored six in a row in the final moments for the Sycamores.
Alec Peters led the way for Valparaiso with 29 points.
Indiana State wraps up non-conference play on Wednesday, December 21 when they host Eastern Illinois inside Hulman Center. Please note the earlier tip-off time of 5:30 p.m. (ET) for the final non-conference game of the season.
