Indiana State concludes storybook season with NIT championship heartbreaker

INDIANAPOLIS – Indiana State’s storybook season fell one recreation in need of a title, because the Sycamores fell to Seton Corridor in a 79-77 heartbreaker Thursday night time inside Hinkle Fieldhouse.
 
The Sycamores end the 2023-24 season at 32-7, the second-most wins in a season in program historical past. Isaiah Swope led the Bushes with 19 factors, 16 of which got here within the second half. Julian Larry added 18 factors and 6 assists, whereas Jayson Kent and Robbie Avila had 13 factors apiece. Ryan Conwell grabbed 12 rebounds within the contest.
 
Indiana State had a solution for each Seton Corridor run within the first half, with Kent and Larry pulling down threes to tie the sport at 16 eight minutes in. The Pirates took their largest lead of the sport late within the first half at 36-26, however back-to-back three-pointers from Larry ignited the Sycamores contained in the final 4 minutes of the opening interval. 
 
Eight of Larry’s 18 factors got here contained in the final three minutes of the primary half, as he capped an 11-0 Indiana State run to shut the half with a layup contained in the final 30 seconds. After going through a 10-point deficit on the remaining media timeout of the primary, the Sycamores went into the locker room deadlocked at 39 with their foes from the Massive East.
 
Seton Corridor had the recent begin popping out of the intermission in constructing a 51-42 lead, utilizing an 8-0 run to construct its benefit. Swope shortly responded for the Sycamores with 11 factors within the first seven minutes of the half, as Indiana State rebounded from a sluggish begin to knot the rating at 53-all.
 
The Pirates maintained a slim lead via the center levels of the half, however a dunk by Kent introduced the group to its toes and sparked a rally for the Sycamores. Xavier Bledson transformed on a three-point play simply previous the halfway level of the half and Larry related on one other trey as Indiana State took its first lead of the second half with 8:42 left.
 
Indiana State’s largest run got here within the late levels of the sport. Trailing 70-69 with 5 minutes remaining, the Sycamores went on an 8-0 run that spanned simply over a minute to go in entrance 77-70. Kent put the Bushes in entrance with a layup, and consecutive threes from Conwell and Swope despatched the group right into a frenzy because the Sycamores constructed their largest lead of the sport with simply over three minutes remaining. 
 
As fast because the scoring run was, the Sycamores hit a dry spell following it, with Seton Corridor scoring the final 9 factors of the sport. A stepback three from Al-Amir Dawes adopted by a layup from Dre Davis contained in the final 30 seconds gave the Pirates a two-point lead and Indiana State was unable to seek out the equalizer. Threes from Swope and Conwell had been off the mark, because the Sycamores’ magical run fell one possession brief.
 
Seton Corridor completed with the highest two scorers within the recreation. Dawes had a game-high 24 factors and was named the NIT Most Excellent Participant, whereas Kadary Richmond had 21 on his strategy to All-Event Staff honors. Davis, who had the go-ahead basket, completed with 18.
 
Information and Notes

• Indiana State closed the 2023-24 season at 32-7. The Sycamores reached the NIT Championship Recreation for the primary time in program historical past and in addition received the MVC Common Season Championship for the primary time since 2000.
• Indiana State’s 32 wins had been this system’s most for the reason that 1978-79 season (33).
• Ryan Conwell and Robbie Avila had been each named to the 2024 NIT All-Event Staff. Avila, a First Staff All-MVC choice this season, averaged 17.0 factors, 6.2 rebounds and 5.8 assists per recreation for the event. Conwell, the MVC Newcomer of the Yr this season, averaged 19.8 factors, 6.2 rebounds and three.8 assists per recreation for the event.
• Robbie Avila grew to become the forty second participant in program historical past to surpass 1,000 profession factors in Thursday’s recreation. Avila completed the 2023-24 season with 1,007.
• Averaging 8.75 turnovers per recreation via the primary 4 video games of the NIT, ISU dedicated 15 miscues within the championship.
• Isaiah Swope had his finest taking pictures night time, ending 7-for-12 from the ground. The 58.3% recreation is his finest since January 13 at versus Belmont (61.5%).
• Ryan Conwell fell one shy of his profession excessive in rebounds with 12.

 
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