Indiana State NIT Championship Game: Seton Hall edges out win over Indiana State in a heartbreaker

Indiana State's NCAA Tournament run ends in heartbreaking loss, despite historic season with standout performances from injured players.

The Sycamores have truly showcased their worthiness of a spot in the NCAA Tournament, but unfortunately, their season came to an end with a heartbreaking 79-77 loss to the Seton Hall Pirates. Head coach Josh Schertz and his team will return to Terre Haute empty-handed, despite their valiant efforts.

Schertz expressed the difficulty of falling short after pouring their hearts and souls into the game, emphasizing the pain of coming up just shy of greatness. The Sycamores fought hard in a game that felt like a home matchup at Hinkle Fieldhouse, with ISU fans rallying behind them as they made several runs to stay competitive against the Big East opponent. However, a late surge by Seton Hall led to their victory and claimed the NIT championship.

Junior guard Isaiah Swope, playing through a torn meniscus, delivered a standout performance for ISU, scoring 16 second-half points and leading the offense down the stretch. Julian Larry also made significant contributions with 18 points and six assists, showcasing his resilience and skill throughout the game.

Despite the loss, Indiana State finished the season with an impressive 32-7 record, marking their highest win total since 1979 when they were NCAA Tournament runners-up with the legendary Larry Bird at the helm. CBS Sports reports that Schertz is expected to depart from Indiana State to take on the head coaching role at Saint Louis, further solidifying his reputation as a respected leader in college basketball.

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