TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (Interstat) — In a gritty, defensive-minded Missouri Valley Conference clash that required an extra five minutes to decide, the Valparaiso Beacons outlasted the Indiana State Sycamores 76-72 in overtime on Saturday afternoon at Hulman Center.

The game, played before a crowd of 5,137, saw Valparaiso improve to 11-11 overall, while Indiana State fell to 9-14. The outcome flipped the pregame projections, as Indiana State had entered as a slight favorite.

The contest was defined by missed opportunities and crucial defensive stands, particularly in the final minutes of regulation and throughout the overtime period. After trailing by 10 points at halftime, Valparaiso mounted a steady comeback in the second half, ultimately forcing overtime when Carter Hopoi converted a hook shot with 30 seconds remaining to tie the game at 66-66. Indiana State’s final possession of regulation ended with a blocked three-point attempt by Camp Wagner as time expired.

The overtime belonged to the Beacons, who scored the first five points and never relinquished the lead. Valparaiso’s defense held the Sycamores to just six points in the extra session, forcing key turnovers and contested shots. A driving layup by Rakim Chaney with 47 seconds left pushed the Beacon lead to four, and free throws from Owen Dease in the final seconds sealed the four-point victory.

The most important sequence of the game occurred in the final minute of overtime. Leading by two with under a minute to play, Valparaiso’s defense forced a critical turnover from Indiana State’s Xavier Hall, which Brody Whitaker promptly stole. After a timeout, the Beacons ran down the shot clock before Dease was fouled and sank both free throws with eight seconds left, extending the lead to two possessions and effectively ending the Sycamores’ hopes.

Statistically, the game was a tale of efficiency and second chances. Despite both teams shooting under 44% from the field, Valparaiso’s dominance on the offensive glass proved decisive. The Beacons grabbed 12 offensive rebounds to Indiana State’s four, leading to a 15-4 advantage in second-chance points. Valparaiso also committed only eight turnovers while forcing 11, translating to a narrow 9-8 edge in points off turnovers.

Valparaiso was led by JT Pettigrew, who scored 17 points and grabbed nine rebounds. Owen Dease added 16 points, while Carter Hopoi contributed 14 points and seven rebounds off the bench. Rakim Chaney and Justus McNair each chipped in 10 points.

For Indiana State, Derek Vorst and Xavier Hall each scored 14 points, with Vorst adding three rebounds and two blocks. Camp Wagner and Enel St. Bernard scored 11 and six points, respectively, with St. Bernard pulling down six rebounds.

The Sycamores built their first-half lead behind efficient interior play, scoring 40 points in the paint for the game, but their offense stagnated after halftime. They shot just 6 of 25 from three-point range and 12 of 21 from the free-throw line, misses that loomed large in a tight contest.

Valparaiso, which entered the game having lost a heartbreaker to Belmont by one point earlier in the week, showed resilience in erasing the halftime deficit. The Beacons also outperformed their season offensive metrics, posting an offensive rating of 105.0 points per 100 possessions against an Indiana State defense that held them to 72 total trips.

The win gives Valparaiso momentum heading into a road game at Bradley on Tuesday. Indiana State looks to regroup on the road at Evansville, also on Tuesday. The two teams are scheduled to meet again in Valparaiso on Feb. 15.