Shots fell early and often for Indiana State as the Sycamores topped Tusculum in Tuesday night's exhibition at Hulman Center, 86-53.
Kailex Stephens paced four Sycamores in double-digits with a game-high 21 points, while Jayson Kent added a team-high 11 rebounds as Indiana State led from start-to-finish in the season-opening exhibition.
ISU scored 16 of the first 20 points and carried a double-digit lead throughout a majority of the first half and led by as many as 27 at the break. The Sycamores' lead peaked at 38 points on a Masen Miller layup at the 11:36 mark in the second half as ISU coasted to the nonconference win.
Stephens went a game-best 10-of-13 from the floor and added five rebounds and three steals in 22 minutes. Robbie Avila added 13 points and three boards off the bench, while Xavier Bledson posted 12 points and six assists in the game. Trenton Gibson was the fourth Sycamore in double-digits as the Tusculum alum scored 11 points on 5-of-5 shooting and added four assists against his former team.
Kent (nine points, 11 rebounds) and Avila helmed a strong second unit on the floor for Indiana State as the Sycamores ran out 13 players on the court in the exhibition. ISU's strength in numbers was shown as the Sycamores had 10 players in the scoring column, 11 with rebounds, and 10 more with assists in the game.
Tusculum was paced by Kyle Brown's 15 points and five rebounds off the bench to lead the Pioneers' scoring efforts. Inady Legiste added six points and 10 rebounds in the loss.
First Half
Courvoisier McCauley scored seven of the Sycamores' first nine points as Indiana State jumped out to the double-digit lead at 14-4 with 15:20 to play in the first half. The Sycamores lead remained at 10 points on Xavier Bledson's steal and layup off the TU turnover at the 11:57 mark putting ISU ahead 26-16.
The Sycamores' second wave took over and blew the game open with Zach Hobbs hitting a three-pointer in transition to put ISU ahead 34-16, while Cooper Neese and Bledson both hit three's on back-to-back possessions to make it a 45-20 game with 5:42 to play in the first half. Robbie Avila capped ISU's scoring in the first half with a three-pointer with 37 seconds remaining to give ISU the 53-26 lead heading into the halftime break.
Second Half
Indiana State's lead hit 30-plus points early in the second half as Kailex Stephens scored on back-to-back possessions to make it a 57-26 game with 18:43 to play in the contest. Masen Miller added his first points in the Sycamore Blue and White at the 11:36 mark to make it a 72-34 game, while Rob Martin and Avila closed out the scoring with ISU's final five points in the contest as the Sycamore took the 86-53 victory.
Inside the Numbers
Indiana State shot 54.5% from the floor and 45.5% from the three-point line in their first competition of the 2022-23 season.
The Sycamores posted 24 assists and added nine steals in the win.
All five starters in the lineup hit a three-pointer, while Robbie Avila (2-of-2) and Zach Hobbs (1-of-3) both converted from off the bench.
Tusculum shot 34.9% from the floor and 22.2% from the three-point line in the exhibition game.
ISU held the 42-39 rebounding edge in the contest.
The Sycamores outscored the Pioneers 50-24 in the paint and 26-8 in fast break points.
News & Notes
The Sycamores had several players make their ISU debut on Tuesday night with Courvoisier McCauley, Trenton Gibson, Masen Miller, Jayson Kent, Robbie Avila, Rob Martin, and Jaden Schertz all take the floor for the first time.
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