SETTING THE STAGE
The Indiana State Sycamores continue Missouri Valley Conference play on Sunday, January 24 as they return home to face off against in-state rival Evansville. The game is set for an 4:00 p.m. (ET) tip-off and can be heard locally on 95.9 FM The Duke as well as online via a link on GoSycamores.com. This game will be broadcast nationally on ESPNU and is also available on Watch ESPN. The Sycamores are 10-9 on the season and 4-3 in Missouri Valley Conference play and return home after dropping a pair of conference road contests to Wichita State and Southern Illinois. Devonte Brown and Brenton Scott have each reached double figures scoring in all seven MVC contests. The Purple Aces have won four in a row and are 17-3, 6-1 MVC in a second place tie with Southern Illinois. D.J. Balentine averages 21.2 ppg while Egidijus Mockevicius is tallying 17.4 points and 14.6 rebounds per game.
QUICK HITS
- Indiana State is 70-8 when holding teams to 63 points or less under sixth-year head coach Greg Lansing (and 17-0 when limiting teams to 53 or less).
- Indiana State has earned 60 close victories (five points or less) since 2005. Under Greg Lansing, the Sycamores are 34-17 in close games.
- Greg Lansing is just the sixth head coach in the history of the program to record at least 100 victories at the helm of the Sycamores.
- Indiana State is third in the MVC with a field goal percentage defense of .413.
- Devonte Brown scored a career-high 27 points in the win at Drake. He set the school record for highest free throw percentage in a game with his 14-of-14 showing at Saint Louis. He is the league leader in both free throws made and attempted and ranks 10th nationally with 151 attempts and 11th nationally-ranked 114 makes. He needs only 25 more points to become the 37th member of the Indiana State 1,000 Point Club.
- The Sycamores have enjoyed nine different winning streaks of at least four games under coach Lansing, including the four game in early January of 2016.
- Indiana State head coach Greg Lansing owns four victories over nationally-ranked teams during his tenure, which is tied for the school record with Bill Hodges and Royce Waltman.
- The Sycamores are 46-31 record in “bounce-back” games under sixth-year head coach Greg Lansing after the win on January 2 against Loyola.
An Indiana State Win Over Evansville Would ...
• Make it five consecutive wins in a row over the Purple Aces inside Hulman Center.
• Improve the Sycamores to 47-31 in “bounce back” games following a loss under sixth-year head coach Greg Lansing.
• Be the Sycamores' 57th MVC victory under sixth-year head coach Greg Lansing.
The Indiana State Head Coach
Indiana State head coach Greg Lansing (South Dakota, 1990) is 104-80 (.565) overall in his sixth season as a head coach. He is 56-41 all-time in MVC games, including a 37-11 mark at home and a 19-30 record on the road. During his career, he is 59-20 in all home games, 30-46 on the road, 15-14 in neutral court contests and 34-17 in games decided by five points or less. Lansing is 8-5 against Evansville and is 4-1 against the Purple Aces at home. With the Trees, Lansing is 7-5 in overtime games and 70-8 when holding teams to 63 points or less. Lansing led the Sycamores to the postseason in each of his first four seasons at the helm (2011 NCAA, 2012 CIT, 2013, 2014 NIT). Lansing is the second head coach to lead the Sycamores to the NCAA Tournament in their rookie campaign in the history of the program, with the other being Bill Hodges leading ISU to a 33-1 record and a Final Four appearance in the 1979 NCAA Tournament. Lansing was just the 14th rookie head coach in the history of the MVC to lead his team to 20 victories during their debut season. Lansing is tied with Bill Hodges and Royce Waltman for most victories over a nationally-ranked team (four) in the history of the program. Lansing is currently sixth on the Indiana State all-time coaching victories list and needs 16 more to tie John Longfellow for fifth.
Television Particulars
The Evansville game will be televised nationally on ESPNU. The broadcast is also available on the Watch ESPN app and ESPN3, but to access you must have a valid television subscription that includes ESPNU.
A Little History
Indiana State is currently in its 120th season of college basketball at the school. The Sycamores are 1,451-1,247 all-time on the hardwood.
Great Scott! Brenton Scott Leads Sycamores Against Northern Iowa & Wichita State
Indiana State sophomore Brenton Scott tallied 54 total points in games against Northern Iowa and Wichita State and posted the Sycamores' first 30-point scoring effort since 2012. Scott averaged 27.0 points and 6.5 rebounds per game while shooting 18-of-33 from the field (54.5 percent) and a blazing 10-of-15 from 3-point range (66.7 percent). He was a perfect 8-of-8 from the free throw line with a pair of assists and a blocked shot. Scott began the week with a career-high 30 points against Northern Iowa as he hit 10 field goals and was 6-of-10 from three-point range. He added eight rebounds to lead the team to go with two assists and made all four of his 3-point attempts. Trailing by seven points at the half, Scott sparked a stretch that saw the Sycamores outscore the Panthers by a 51-21 margin and blow the game open for a 14-point win. At Wichita State, Scott was a perfect 4-of-4 from 3-point range in the first half and finished with 24 points. He ended up with a 4-of-5 mark from long distance and he made all four of free throws to go with five rebounds. Scott has reached double figures scoring in all six conference games so far and has scored at least 24 points in each of his last three efforts against Illinois State, Northern Iowa and Wichita State.
Sycamore Duo In Top 5 League Only Scoring Average
Through the first seven games of MVC action, senior Devonte Brown and sophomore Brenton Scott both rank inside the league's Top 5 for scoring. Brown is second with an 18.7 ppg average while Scott is fourth following his career-high 30 points vs. Northern Iowa and 24 more against Wichita State and owns an 18.1 ppg mark. The Sycamores and Sunday's opponent Evansville are the only teams with two scorers inside the Top 5 in league only scoring average. Scott and Brown have each reached double figures scoring in all seven league games thus far with Scott and Brown scoring at least 20 on three different occasions during league play.
Rebounding Edge Coming From Guard Play
In MVC play, the Sycamores have four players inside the Top 20 league wide for rebounding and they all come from a guard position. Leading the way is Everett Clemons who owns an 8.1 rebounds per game average and ranks third as he pulled down a career-best 16 caroms at Southern Illinois. Clemons became the first Sycamore to pull down at least 15 rebounds since Matt Renn did it in 2001 also against the Salukis and he currently leads the MVC with a 2.6 offensive rebounds per game average in conference contests. Devonte Brown's 5.6 rebounds per league game ranks tied for ninth along while Brenton Scott is 11th at 5.3 rebounds and Khristian Smith finds himself tied for 18th at 4.6.
Devonte Brown Sets School Record For Free Throw Performance At Saint Louis
Indiana State senior Devonte Brown led the team with 24 points at Saint Louis on the strength of a percent 14-of-14 shooting performance at the free throw line, which is a new Indiana State single-game record topping Jake Odum's previous best of 13-of-13 at Bradley in 2014. For the season, Brown is ranked 11th nationally with 114 free throw makes and is 10th nationally with 151 free throw attempts. He leads the MVC in both categories. Brown also currently stands at 975 career points and with only 25 more will become the 37th member of the Indiana State 1,000 Point Club and the 13th either recruited by or played for head coach Greg Lansing.
Sycamores Own Third-Best Record In MVC Play Over Last Five Seasons
In the last six seasons under the direction of head coach Greg Lansing, the Sycamores have amassed a total of 56 Missouri Valley Conference victories. Those 56 MVC wins by coach Lansing are second-most in the history of the program as he trails only Royce Waltman who won 69 league games during his tenure. Additionally, the 56 MVC victories for the Sycamores since the 2010-11 campaign ranks third-best among current conference members. Wichita State's 82 leads the league while Indiana State has 56 and Northern Iowa is second with 58.
Khristian Smith Newest Member Of Indiana State 1,000 Point Club
Indiana State senior Khristian Smith went over the 1,000 career point mark against Loyola on January 2 in his 112nd game wearing a Sycamore uniform. With his 10 points scored versus the Ramblers, he became the 36th member of the Indiana State Basketball 1,000 Point Club. Smith is the 12th member of the club (33 percent) either coached or recruited by current head coach Greg Lansing, the most members that one coach can claim as one of their pupils in the illustrious club. Smith also currently sits at 488 career rebounds and needs 12 more to reach the 500 rebound milestone. With just 12 more rebounds, he will become just the 17th player in the history of the program to join the 1,000 point and 500 rebound club.
Greg Lansing Sixth Head Coach To Record Victory No. 100 at Indiana State
Indiana State sixth-year head coach Greg Lansing earned his 100th career victory as Indiana State recorded a 73-61 victory inside Hulman Center on December 22. Lansing is just the sixth Sycamore basketball head coach to reach the career milestone and is sixth all-time in victories at Indiana State. He needs 19 more to tie John Longfellow for fifth on the all-time victories list with 120. Lansing is the fourth quickest head coach to 100 victories as it took him 177 games to reach the milestone. It took Glenn Curtis (replacement of John Wooden) only 135 games to reach 100 wins in the late 1940's and early 50's.
Greg Lansing Selected For Induction Into Iowa High School Basketball Hall Of Fame
Indiana State head coach Greg Lansing has been selected for induction into the Iowa High School Athletic Association Basketball Hall of Fame as part of their 2016 class. Lansing and the other selected inductees will be honored individually at halftime of the Iowa Class 4A State Championship Game at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines on Saturday, March 12. The IHSAA Basketball Hall of Fame is the highest honor the Iowa High School Board of Control can bestow on a high school coach or former player. Lansing graduated from Harlan High School in 1986, where he was coached by his father Dave, who was inducted into the IHSAA Basketball Hall of Fame in 1999 as a coach. The Lansing father/son combination of Dave and Greg will be just the 10th father/son duo to both be inducted into the Hall of Fame since 1969.
63 Is The Magic Number
The Sycamores win by the score of 74-60 on January 13, 2016 vs. Northern Iowa was ISU's sixth this season in which they held an opponent to 63 points or less and earned the victory. Under sixth-year head coach Greg Lansing, the Sycamores are 70-8 when allowing less than 63 points to the opposition (including a 17-0 mark when holding teams to 53 or less).
Sycamores Have Had Success In Bounce Back Games Under Head Coach Greg Lansing
In the last six seasons, the Sycamores have been known as a team with the ability to bounce back from defeat. Since the 2010-11 campaign, the Sycamores are 46-31 (.597) in a game which follows a loss.
Good Starter On The Battery
Indiana State's starting five has outscored the opposition's top five in 11 games so far this season. Under sixth-year head coach Greg Lansing, the Sycamores are 66-20 when the ISU starting five scores more than their opponent's starters after doing so in the win over Drake.
Sycamore Success Against “Power 6” Teams Under Greg Lansing
With its 83-70 victory over Notre Dame two years ago, the Sycamores have won back-to-back games against the Atlantic Coast Conference as ISU downed Miami (Fla.) on December 25, 2012 as part of the Hawaiian Airlines Diamond Classic. Under fifth-year head coach Greg Lansing, the Sycamores are 5-7 against teams from “Power 6” Conferences, and all 12 of those contests have either come on the road or on a neutral court.
Sycamore Success Inside Hulman Center Under Greg Lansing
The Sycamores are 59-20 (.747) inside Hulman Center under sixth-year head coach Greg Lansing. The Sycamores have won 49 of their last 65 home games. Additionally, the Sycamores have won 37 of their last 48 MVC games at home. The Sycamores are 6-2 at home this season.
Jordan Barnes Inks National Letter Of Intent With Sycamore Basketball
On National Signing Day (November 11), the Indiana State Basketball program received a NLI from Jordan Barnes, a 5-11, 155 point guard from St. Louis, Mo., who is a senior at Christian Brothers College High School. He helped his team win Missouri's Division 5 State Championship in 2014. No stranger to the spotlight, Barnes connected on a double-clutch, 3-point buzzer-beat for the St. Louis Eagles, his AAU team last summer in a play which was featured on ESPN SportsCenter's Top 10 plays. As a junior, Barnes averaged 15 points, six assists and two steals per game. He was rewarded for his outstanding play by being named a first team all-conference selection. In addition to his other offensive exploits, Barnes is a 48 percent shooter from 3-point range. Barnes played for head coach Justin Tatum at Christian Brothers.
Sycamores Record 25th 20-Plus Point Margin Of Victory In Their Valley History
While any win in the Missouri Valley Conference is tough to come by, a win by 20 or more points is even more rare for the Sycamores. Since Indiana State joined the league for the 1977-78 campaign, Indiana State has earned 25 victories by at least 20 points. The Sycamores' win by 21 points over Drake on Valentine's Day 2015 was its first over 20 points since a 2011 victory over Northern Iowa by 25 points. Indiana State added a 20-point win over Southern Illinois on February 21 for its second of the season. Indiana State's 65-44 victory in 1998 at Northern Iowa is the program's only road win by at least 20 points against a MVC opponent.
Up Next
Indiana State concludes a two-game home stand when they host Missouri State on Wednesday, January 27 inside Hulman Center. Tip-off is set for 7:00 p.m. (ET).
