TERRE HAUTE, Ind. — Robbie Avila scored 22 points, including a 3-pointer with 58.1 seconds left, and Indiana State beat Cincinnati 85-81 on Tuesday night to advance to the NIT semifinals.
Avila had five rebounds and six assists for the Sycamores (31-6). Ryan Conwell scored 18 points and added six rebounds. Jayson Kent had 16 points and shot 5 of 5 from the field and 4 of 4 from the free-throw line.
Simas Lukosius led the Bearcats (22-15) in scoring, finishing with 26 points and two steals. Jizzle James added 21 points, five assists and two steals for Cincinnati. Dan Skillings Jr. also recorded 12 points and 12 rebounds.
Kent scored seven points in the first half and Indiana State went into halftime trailing 36-32. Avila scored 16 points in the second half.
BOX SCORE
CINCINNATI (22-15)
Bandaogo 2-3 4-8 8, Newman 3-3 0-0 9, James 10-23 1-1 21, Skillings 5-11 2-2 12, Lukosius 8-17 4-6 26, Reynolds 2-2 0-0 5, Reed 0-0 0-0 0, Oguama 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 30-60 11-17 81
INDIANA ST. (31-6)
Avila 7-15 4-6 22, Conwell 6-14 3-4 18, Larry 3-8 1-4 7, Swope 3-11 4-5 12, Kent 5-5 4-4 16, Bledson 1-4 2-2 5, Wolfe 0-0 0-0 0, Vorst 1-1 2-2 5. Totals 26-58 20-27 85
Halftime: Cincinnati 36-32
3-Point Goals: Cincinnati 10-22 (Lukosius 6-14, Newman 3-3, Reynolds 1-1, James 0-4), Indiana St. 13-30 (Avila 4-8, Conwell 3-7, Kent 2-2, Swope 2-6, Vorst 1-1, Bledson 1-4, Larry 0-2)
Rebounds: Cincinnati 35 (Skillings 12), Indiana St. 29 (Kent 7)
Assists: Cincinnati 11 (James 5), Indiana St. 18 (Avila 6)
Total Fouls: Cincinnati 18, Indiana St. 15