TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – Indiana State (3-2) scored 28 points at the free throw line to key a 72-66 win over Southeast Missouri (2-5) Tuesday afternoon at the Hulman Center.
One of the top free throw shooting teams in the Missouri Valley Conference, ISU shot 80 percent (28-of-35) from the charity stripe and that was the difference.
For the game, ISU and SEMO combined for 50 fouls and 62 free throw attempts.
The Redhawks never led en route to their first loss of the season that wasn't in overtime or decided by a last second shot.
ISU started the game on a 9-0 run to put SEMO into an early hole just 3:33 in. The Rehawks turned the ball over six times in that stretch.
Eric Reed, Jr. later buried a 3-pointer to get the Redhawks within four (20-16) at the 8:29 mark of the first half, but the Sycamores answered with the next five points extending their lead to 25-19.
SEMO committed 11 turnovers in the first half, which resulted in the Sycamores taking a 32-24 lead at the intermission.
The Redhawks, who trailed, 52-36, with a little over 12 minutes remaining, managed to get to within four (64-60) on a pair of
Dylan Branson free throws with 1:40 to go.
DQ Nicholas' layup made it a four-point game again 27 seconds later, but that was the closest SEMO would get before falling to its fourth-straight loss.
SEMO shot 40.4 percent (21-of-52) from the field and missed nine of its free throws at a 66.7 percent (18-of-27) clip. The Redhawks committed 19 turnovers and were charged for 27 fouls, as well. Additionally, SEMO outrebounded ISU, 35-30.
Chris Harris led SEMO with 16 points and six rebounds, his sixth double-digit performance of the season.
Branson, a freshman, followed with 12 points on three 3-pointers and three free throws. For Branson, it was the first time he scored double figures in his college career.
Nolan Taylor added 11 points and six boards.
Tyreke Key dropped in a game-high 18 points and did not miss a free throw (7-of-7) to pace the Sycamores. Jake LaRavia added 15 points and Tre Williams chipped in 11. LaRavia (9) and Williams (5) also accounted for 14 points on free throws.
SEMO, which finished at 0-3 against MVC opponents this year, will break for the Christmas holiday before returning to Ohio Valley Conference action at Tennessee Tech on Dec. 30.
