Missouri State's football players already knew the math but, in case they didn't, coach Terry Allen pounded it home following Tuesday's practice.

Indiana State has one victory in its last 50 games --against MSU, two years ago.

Senior cornerback Chris Farrar did not need the reminder.

"It still hurts," Farrar said of the memory of a 28-22 loss to the Sycamores in October of 2006, in Terre Haute, Ind.

That broke a 24-game Indiana State losing streak. The Sycamores have lost 25 more in a row since.

MSU goes back to Terre Haute on Saturday to wrap up the season. The Bears have lost four straight and, with injuries on the offensive line, are a vulnerable team.

"I'm sure Indiana State is chomping at the bit believing this is a game they can win," Allen said.

In the aftermath of Saturday's 48-27 loss to North Dakota State Allen talked about the fragile state of his team's psyche.

The task for the coaching staff, he said, is to restore some confidence and avoid a repeat of the last visit to Terre Haute.

"We need to have some success and just settle down and not be a rattled football team," Allen said.

"I don't know if there are any special ingredients to doing that."

The key ingredient would be getting off to a good start.

"No question, especially in this game," Allen said. "If we don't get off to a good start and they do, that's just going to raise their confidence level and they'll play with so much more enthusiasm."

Added Farrar: "If we start strong, get a couple of three-and-outs on defense and the offense moves the ball, we ought to be good to go."

The Bears' best news this week is the return of starting running back Kingjack Washington who's missed the last 2 1/2 games with a sprained ankle.

Washington said he is not quite 100 percent, but "it's where I can run on it and it feels good to be back."

"It's hard, but we're trying to look on the bright side," Washington added. "We have 12 seniors and we want to go out with a win for them.

"For the younger guys, we want to go out on a good note and start a streak. You have to start somewhere."