Valparaiso Edges Indiana State in Nail-Biter Finish
Sunday, February 15, 2026, 2:00 PM ET · Athletics-Recreation Center
Valparaiso Beacons 76, Indiana State Sycamores 75, final. Our NCAAB picks are sealed as a hash before kickoff and settled in public, losses included.
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Quick answers
Who won Indiana State Sycamores vs Valparaiso Beacons?
Valparaiso Beacons beat Indiana State Sycamores 76-75 at Athletics-Recreation Center on February 15, 2026.
Who was favored in Indiana State Sycamores vs Valparaiso Beacons?
Valparaiso Beacons were the favorite at DraftKings, moneyline -218 (about 69% implied). The favorite won.
In a thrilling encounter, the Valparaiso Beacons narrowly defeated the Indiana State Sycamores 76-75 at the Athletics-Recreation Center. This match showcased the competitive spirit of both teams, with Valparaiso improving its record to 15-13, while Indiana State fell to 10-18. The game was a critical one for both sides, particularly for Valparaiso as they aimed to solidify their standing in the league.
Valparaiso entered the game with a home record of 14-13 and a recent form of 5-5 over their last ten games, although they were on a one-game losing streak following a loss to Illinois State. They averaged 70.9 points scored and allowed 72.4 points during this stretch. In contrast, Indiana State struggled with a 10-17 record and had lost two consecutive games, holding a record of 2-8 in their last ten outings. They averaged 74.1 points scored but allowed 76.6 points in that same span.
The Beacons' recent performance at home had been relatively strong, with a home record of 3-1 in their last four games. They had shown resilience in their previous matchup against Indiana State, winning 76-72 on January 31. Indiana State, however, faced difficulties on the road, with a 1-3 record in their last four away games.
The matchup was particularly interesting as it featured a recent head-to-head record of 2-1 in favor of Valparaiso over the last two seasons. Their last three meetings included a close victory for Valparaiso earlier in the season and a decisive win for Indiana State in February 2025.
In terms of injuries, the block did not provide specific details, but both teams had been dealing with the usual challenges of player availability as the season progressed.
The betting market, as provided by DraftKings, had Valparaiso favored by 4.5 points, with a total set at 145.5. The odds indicated a home moneyline of -218 for Valparaiso and +180 for Indiana State, reflecting the expectation that Valparaiso would perform well at home.
Conditions for the game were standard for indoor basketball, with no adverse weather factors affecting play. Fans were treated to an exciting contest that saw multiple lead changes and a tightly contested second half.
Key moments in the game included a series of scoring plays that kept fans on the edge of their seats. Sterling Young's driving layup put Indiana State ahead momentarily, but Valparaiso responded with a series of clutch plays, including Brody Whitaker's 19-foot jumper that sealed the victory. The final moments were marked by tension as both teams exchanged leads, showcasing their determination to win.
Overall, the matchup between Valparaiso and Indiana State proved to be a captivating display of college basketball, highlighting the competitive nature of the NCAAB landscape.
Odds
| Book | Spread | Total | Moneyline |
|---|---|---|---|
| DraftKings | VAL -4.5 | 145.5 o -105 / u -115 | Indiana State Sycamores +180 · Valparaiso Beacons -218 |
Leaders
- PointsBrody Whitaker21Valparaiso Beacons
- AssistsJT Pettigrew6Valparaiso Beacons
- ReboundsJT Pettigrew8Valparaiso Beacons
- PointsSterling Young16Indiana State Sycamores
- AssistsXavier Hall5Indiana State Sycamores
- ReboundsIan Scott8Indiana State Sycamores
Recent form
Valparaiso Beacons
Last 10: 5-5Streak L170.9 scored · 72.4 allowed per game3-1 at home
- L64-86at Illinois State RedbirdsFeb 13
- W81-76at Drake BulldogsFeb 10
- W70-63vs Evansville Purple AcesFeb 7
- L65-72at Bradley BravesFeb 4
- W76-72at Indiana State SycamoresJan 31
- L77-78vs Belmont BruinsJan 29
- W69-63vs Southern Illinois SalukisJan 22
- W54-44vs Northern Iowa PanthersJan 17
- L74-78at Belmont BruinsJan 14
- L79-92at Murray State RacersJan 10
Indiana State Sycamores
Last 10: 2-8Streak L274.1 scored · 76.6 allowed per game1-3 away
- L72-74vs Murray State RacersFeb 13
- L65-80vs Southern Illinois SalukisFeb 10
- W84-63at Evansville Purple AcesFeb 4
- L72-76vs Valparaiso BeaconsJan 31
- L74-76at UIC FlamesJan 28
- L62-76vs Drake BulldogsJan 24
- L68-75at Bradley BravesJan 22
- L81-85at Murray State RacersJan 17
- W94-89vs Illinois State RedbirdsJan 15
- L69-72vs Evansville Purple AcesJan 10
Standings
| Team | Overall | Games behind | In conference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Belmont | 26-6 | - | 16-4 |
| Bradley | 21-13 | 3 | 13-7 |
| Illinois State | 23-13 | 4 | 12-8 |
| Murray State | 20-13 | 4 | 12-8 |
| UIC | 19-16 | 4 | 12-8 |
| Northern Iowa | 23-13 | 5 | 11-9 |
| Valparaiso | 18-15 | 5 | 11-9 |
| Southern Illinois | 16-16 | 6 | 10-10 |
| Drake | 14-20 | 10 | 6-14 |
| Indiana State | 11-21 | 12 | 4-16 |
| Evansville | 7-25 | 13 | 3-17 |
Box score
| Stat | Indiana State Sycamores | Valparaiso Beacons |
|---|---|---|
| Field goals | 31-57 | 29-56 |
| Field goal % | 54 | 52 |
| Three-pointers | 4-15 | 8-19 |
| Three-point % | 27 | 42 |
| Free throws | 9-13 | 10-21 |
| Free throw % | 69 | 48 |
| Rebounds | 28 | 32 |
| Offensive rebounds | 9 | 15 |
| Defensive rebounds | 19 | 17 |
| Assists | 17 | 16 |
| Steals | 2 | 2 |
| Blocks | 3 | 4 |
| Turnovers | 8 | 9 |
| Team turnovers | 2 | 2 |
| Technical fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Technical fouls, total | 0 | 0 |
| Flagrant fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Points off turnovers | 13 | 9 |
| Fast-break points | 5 | 10 |
| Points in the paint | 54 | 36 |
| Fouls | 16 | 14 |
| Largest lead | 3 | 10 |
| Lead changes | 10 | 10 |
| Time in front | 13 | 79 |
How the scoring went
- 1st Half35-43Justus McNair makes 15-foot step back jumpshot
- 1st Half38-43Markus Harding makes 24-foot three point jumper (Xavier Hall assists)
- 1st Half38-45Carter Hopoi makes 3-foot hook shot (Justus McNair assists)
- 1st Half40-45Ian Scott makes layup
- 1st Half40-46JT Pettigrew makes free throw 1 of 2
- 1st Half40-47JT Pettigrew makes free throw 2 of 2
- 1st Half41-47Xavier Hall makes free throw 2 of 2
- 1st Half41-49Brody Whitaker makes layup (JT Pettigrew assists)
- 1st Half42-49Xavier Hall makes free throw 1 of 2
- 1st Half43-49Xavier Hall makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half43-52Brody Whitaker makes 25-foot three point jumper (JT Pettigrew assists)
- 2nd Half45-52Ian Scott makes 2-foot dunk (Xavier Hall assists)
- 2nd Half45-55Brody Whitaker makes 26-foot three point jumper (JT Pettigrew assists)
- 2nd Half47-55Sterling Young makes driving layup
- 2nd Half49-55Bruno Alocen makes layup (Ian Scott assists)
- 2nd Half49-57Shon Tupuola makes 9-foot hook shot
- 2nd Half51-57Ian Scott makes layup (Bruno Alocen assists)
- 2nd Half52-57Sterling Young makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half53-57Sterling Young makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half53-59JT Pettigrew makes layup (Rakim Chaney assists)
- 2nd Half55-59Sterling Young makes driving layup
- 2nd Half57-59Sterling Young makes layup
- 2nd Half58-59Sterling Young makes free throw 1 of 1
- 2nd Half58-61JT Pettigrew makes layup (Brody Whitaker assists)
- 2nd Half58-63Carter Hopoi makes layup (JT Pettigrew assists)
- 2nd Half60-63Cooper Bean makes layup (Markus Harding assists)
- 2nd Half60-65Brody Whitaker makes 10-foot jumper
- 2nd Half62-65Markus Harding makes 1-foot hook shot
- 2nd Half62-68Brody Whitaker makes 25-foot three point jumper (JT Pettigrew assists)
- 2nd Half62-70JT Pettigrew makes layup (Brody Whitaker assists)
- 2nd Half65-70Xavier Hall makes 23-foot three point jumper (Ian Scott assists)
- 2nd Half67-70Xavier Hall makes layup (Ian Scott assists)
- 2nd Half69-70Sterling Young makes driving layup
- 2nd Half71-70Bruno Alocen makes 5-foot hook shot (Enel St. Bernard assists)
- 2nd Half71-72Shon Tupuola makes 13-foot floating jump shot (Brody Whitaker assists)
- 2nd Half73-72Enel St. Bernard makes 2-foot dunk (Sterling Young assists)
- 2nd Half75-72Ian Scott makes 0-foot tip in layup
- 2nd Half75-73JT Pettigrew makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half75-74JT Pettigrew makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half75-76Brody Whitaker makes 19-foot jumper
Win probability
Above the line favours Valparaiso Beacons, below favours Indiana State Sycamores.
Venue
- Athletics-Recreation CenterValparaiso, IN
- Attendance2065
- OfficialsRoland Simmons, Antinio Petty, James Ford
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