November 14, 2006
Men’s Basketball
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

MOORE SEALS A SYCAMORE VICTORY FROM THE LINE

Box Score

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – Indiana State junior Gabe Moore hit three of four free throws down the stretch to seal the 73-71 home opening win over the visiting Broncos of Western Michigan on Tuesday night at the Hulman Center.

The Sycamores were paced by five players in double figures led by freshman Cole Holmstrom scoring a game-high 17 points to bring ISU’s record to 1-0 on the season. The Broncos saw Michael Redell and Joe Reitz each chip in 16 as WMU dropped its second game this year (0-2).

Indiana State got out of the gate sluggish with three offensive fouls, leading to nine Western Michigan points in the first three minutes.

“We were making mistakes in the beginning,” Moore said of the start, “But we knew we could get a show off at anytime.”

The shots would begin to fall for the Sycamores as ISU went on a 17-0 run over the next six minutes, gaining the lead that the team would carry into the half. Indiana State would increase the gap to as much as nine late in the first half on a jumper by Moore, bringing the score to 30-21. The ISU lead would hold at 35-27 going into the half.

Indiana State would keep the momentum following the break until Western Michigan countered in the middle of the second half with an 11-0 run to give the Broncos their first lead since the first half, 52-50, on a Derek Fracalossi jumper.

On the following possession, ISU senior Trent Wurtz ended the WMU run on a running lay-up which would again turn the tide in favor of the Sycamores and tie the score 52-52 with 7:56 remaining.

Indiana State capitalized on offensive rebounds and turnovers over the next three minutes to build a lead of five and held on with clutch free-throw shooting for the win.

“They competed hard and I was really pleased with the effort,” Head coach Royce Waltman said of the team’s effort. “The guys really battled out there today.”

Indiana State will see its next action against the Hoosiers of Indiana University in Assembly Hall in Bloomington on Friday night. The game is scheduled to tip-off at 8:00 p.m. with the Sycamores looking to repeat the 72-67 win in Terre Haute last season.

NOTES
Trent Wurtz recorded his first double-double as a Sycamore with 11 points and 10 rebounds.

The win is ISU’s fifth consecutive home opening win and sixth in seven years.

Five Sycamores scoring in double figures happened only once last season in an 85-79 overtime victory over Middle Tennessee State.

Adam Arnold tied a career high with ten points.

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