Valparaiso needed overtime to get there, but the Beacons left with the only number that matters: a 76-72 win over Indiana State on Jan. 31, 2026. In a game that flipped after halftime, Valparaiso’s 39-point second half and 10-6 edge in the extra period were enough to erase a deficit and finish the job.

How it happened

Indiana State controlled the first meaningful stretch on the scoreboard, taking a 37-27 lead into halftime. Valparaiso responded with its best run after the break, putting up 39 in the second half to force overtime at 66-66.

In the extra five minutes, Valparaiso was sharper on both ends, winning overtime 10-6 to close out the 76-72 final.

Turning point

The game turned in the second half. Indiana State went from a 10-point halftime cushion to needing overtime, while Valparaiso’s 39-point surge after the break changed the shot-making and momentum equation. Once the game reached overtime, the Beacons’ 10-6 advantage created just enough separation to finish the comeback.

What it means going forward

For Valparaiso, the win steadies a team that entered at 11-11 and coming off a WLWWL stretch. The Beacons proved they can win a high-leverage road game by sustaining offense after halftime and executing in overtime.

For Indiana State, now 9-14 and riding an LLLLL form line that extends to six straight with this result, the inability to convert a 37-point first half into a win is the headline. The Sycamores will need to find a way to carry early control into late-game possessions, especially in tight finishes where overtime becomes a coin flip.

Score by half and overtime

Halftime: Indiana State 37, Valparaiso 27
Second half: Valparaiso 39, Indiana State 29
Overtime: Valparaiso 10, Indiana State 6
Final: Valparaiso 76, Indiana State 72