TERRE HAUTE, IND. -- Indiana State reeled off eight unanswered points midway through the second half to break a 49-49 tie en route to a 76-66 Missouri Valley Conference victory against Drake.
Drake made a season-high 15 three-point baskets including a career-tying five treys from freshman forward
Ben Simons who finished with 15 points.
Senior guard
Josh Young led Drake with 21 points, making eight of 10 shots — all in the second half — including four three-point baskets. He also dished out six assists.
Young set his second school record in a week by becoming Drake's career three-point basket leader with 243, bettering the previous mark of 241 by
Klayton Korver (2003-08) and Luke McDonald (2001-03). Last Saturday Young set the Bulldog career scoring mark.
Senior forward
Adam Templeton added 12 points, coming on four three-point baskets, while collecting nine rebounds.
Indiana State used a whopping advantage at the free throw line and a near flawless floor game to sweep the season series against Drake.
The Sycamores made 16 of 18 free throws compared to just five of seven by Drake. Indiana State also dished out 17 assists while committing a season-low three assists.
"Indiana State was terrific on offense," said Drake head coach
Mark Phelps. "It's tough to overcome those offensive numbers on the road."
Simons broke out of a shooting slump that had seen him hit just 21.7 percent from three-point range in the last 16 games by making five of 10 three-point shots.
Simons hit two straight treys keying a 9-1 run early in the second half that allowed the Bulldogs to turn a 48-40 deficit into a 49-49 tie.
But the Sycamores were able to build the lead up to 64-54 with guard Jordan Printy scoring five points.
"It's disappointing. We have to be better on defense," Phelps added. "In order to make a comeback, you need to make stops."
Drake raced to a 7-0 lead with freshman center
Seth VanDeest scoring four points.
Aaron Carter, who scored just four points in the previous meeting between the teams Jan. 3 in Des Moines, scored 15 of his 17 points in the first half, staking Indiana State to a 38-28 halftime lead.
Drake shot 39 percent from the floor, hitting 23 of 59 shots.
Indiana State outrebounded Drake, 33-32.
Drake will host Southern Illinois this Tuesday.
