By: WJBC Staff

NORMAL. – Phil Fayne scored a career-high 22 points and Deontae Hawkins chipped in 21 points, as Illinois State never trailed in an 81-67 victory over NCAA Division II Ferris State Sunday afternoon on Doug Collins Court at Redbird Arena.

Fayne shot 9-for-16 (56.3 percent) from the field and also collected six rebounds. Meanwhile, Hawkins shot 8-for-12 (66.7 percent) and was credited with six rebounds, four steals and one assist. Drew Cushingberry led Ferris State offensively with 20 points.

Illinois State finished the game 31-for-68 (45.6 percent) from the field, while the Bulldogs shot 23-for-54 (42.6 percent). The Redbirds outrebounded Ferris State, 39-35, and ISU forced 22 turnovers compared to 11 committed by ISU.

After winning the tipoff, Illinois State scored first for the fourth-straight game this season. The Redbirds built an 8-0 lead with baskets by MiKyle McIntosh, DJ Clayton, Paris Lee and Fayne, while ISU’s defense held Ferris State without a field goal for the first two minutes. The Bulldogs answered with a 9-3 run to pull within 11-8 on a pair of Peter Firlik free throws at the 16:10 mark.

However, the Redbirds responded with seven-unanswered points to lead, 18-9, with 13:40 remaining in the first half. Back-to-back 3-pointers by Ferris State’s Andrew Meacham pulled the Bulldogs within 18-15 at the 12:29 mark. A Quentin Ruff 3-pointer with 9:04 to play cut Illinois State’s lead to 22-20, and after the Redbirds regained a six-point advantage, FSU pulled within 26-23 on a Noah King trifecta. A Fayne dunk followed by a Hawkins layup pushed ISU back in front by seven points.

Ferris State then manufactured a 7-2 run to pull within, 32-30, at the 4:52 mark on a 3-pointer by Cushingberry. Illinois State responded by outscoring the Bulldogs, 6-2, to take a 38-32 advantage. FSU closed the gap to 40-37 on a Meacham 3-pointer with 2:17 remaining. However, McIntosh responded by netting a jumper at the 2:04 mark to secure a 42-37 halftime advantage. Hawkins led the Redbirds with 11 first-half points, as ISU shot 17-for-28 (60.7 percent) from the field compared to Ferris State’s 12-for-22 (54.5 percent) effort.

The Bulldogs opened up the second half with two free throws by Cushingberry to pull within 42-39; however, Illinois State responded with an 8-2 run – including a Hawkins 3-pointer – to take a 48-39 lead at the 16:29 mark. Ferris State edged within 54-48 on another Cushingberry layup. But, Illinois State scored five-unanswered to take an 11-point advantage, 59-48, on a pair of Lee free throws with 11:22 remaining

After the Bulldogs pulled within 59-50, ISU responded with a 9-3 run, including a Hawkins free throw and jumper to build a 68-53 lead with 6:59 remaining. A 7-2 Ferris State run from 3:10 until 2:35 pulled the Bulldogs within 76-63. But, the teams exchanged baskets for the final two and half minutes, and Illinois State secured the win.