Nov. 17, 2009

Box Score
Postgame Press Conference Audio

BATON ROUGE, La. - Rashad Reed scored 16 points to lead four players in double figures and Indiana State shot 57.7 percent from the floor in claiming a 76-63 win over the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Tuesday night in the Dick's Sporting Goods NIT Season Tipoff at the Maravich Center.

The Sycamores (2-1) made 15-of-23 shots from the floor in the second half alone, steadily pulling away from the Panthers (1-2).

Milwaukee actually led by nine points in the early going but could never reclaim the lead after falling down by two at the half. UWM was still within six with 5:49 to play but Indiana State used a 10-2 run to put the game away.

Deonte Roberts had 13 points to lead the Panthers, who did collect 22 offensive rebounds and 10 steals but made just 35 percent of their shots from the field. James Eayrs had a double-double of 10 points and 10 boards, but made just 4-of-18 shots. Tony Meier also added 10 points.

Dwayne Lathan made all seven of his shots in adding 14 points off the bench for the Sycamores.

"It's tough to win a game when a team shoots close to 60 percent," UWM head coach Rob Jeter said. "They just flat-out pushed us anywhere they wanted to around the court. They were just flat-out tougher, more aggressive, more determined, and as a result they had us on our heels all night."

The Panthers started quickly, scoring 12 of the first 15 points in the game. But, Indiana state wasted little time in striking back, scoring 15 of the next 19 points for an 18-16 lead. From there, Milwaukee led by as many as three and Indiana State by as many as four before the Sycamores carried a two-point edge into the locker room.

Indiana State extended its lead back to five early in the second half and then used an 11-4 run to build a 61-51 lead with left. Milwaukee did close to within 64-58 on a layin by Jason Averkamp with just under six minutes left, but the Sycamores closed the game by scoring 12 of the final 17 points.

UWM returns to action Saturday afternoon, welcoming Hillsdale (Mich.) to the U.S. Cellular Arena for a 1 p.m. contest. The Panthers are also now waiting to find out where they will go for their final two games in the NIT Season Tipoff, with those contests schedule for next Monday and Tuesday.