In an electrifying match, Indiana State, driven by standout performances from Ryan Conwell and Robbie Avila, defeated Utah 100-90 to secure a place in the NIT Championship. The victory, cheered on by a home-state crowd, sets the stage for a historic final.
Ryan Conwell equaled his career-best performance with 27 points, while Robbie Avila contributed 26 points and grabbed 10 rebounds, propelling the number one seed Indiana State to a victory over the second seed Utah with a score of 100-90 on Tuesday night, securing a spot in the NIT championship game. The victory was buoyed by a strong, supportive crowd in their home state.
Isaiah Swope chimed in with 15 points, all scored in the latter half of the game, along with eight assists, as Indiana State (32-6) made it to its first national tournament final since the iconic 1979 NCAA championship game that featured Larry Bird leading the then-undefeated Sycamores against Magic Johnson’s Michigan State.
Indiana State now looks forward to a clash on Thursday in Indianapolis against the top-seeded Seton Hall (24-12), aiming for a win that would equal the 1978-79 team’s record for the most single-season victories.
On Utah’s side, Deivon Smith led with a career-best 28 points, in addition to seven rebounds and six assists, marking a standout performance for the last team representing the Pac-12 in the league’s final season. Branden Carlson added 17 points. Utah’s sharpshooting was on display as they hit 17 3-pointers, with Smith making all six of his attempts.
Gaining the upper hand wasn’t straightforward for Indiana State. However, a critical 10-2 run in the second half turned the game in their favor, leading to a 63-56 advantage that they never relinquished, eventually stretching the lead to 15 points.
Avila played a key role early on, scoring 11 points in the initial eight minutes, which helped Indiana State to establish a 28-17 lead. Smith rallied Utah back into contention, briefly leading 34-33 late in the first half. The game remained tightly contested until Indiana State’s significant push in the second half solidified their victory.
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