Missouri Valley Conference-leading Indiana State was running a layup drill for much of the first half and took an 18-point lead to the locker room. The Redbirds got their turnover troubles under control and now the defense —which had been solid recently — sprung a leak as the Sycamores shot 67.7% from the field.
"We just came out bad in the first half. We have to talk more, we have to be way more connected," said ISU junior Darius Burford as the Sycamores scored 34 points in the paint in the first half. "This is the third game now where we've struggled in the first half and picked it up in the second.