By WJBC Staff
NORMAL – After facing a seven-point second-half deficit, the Illinois State men’s basketball team rallied for its 10th-consecutive victory by beating Indiana State, 71-66, Wednesday night on Doug Collins Court at Redbird Arena.
The Redbirds (17-4 overall) improved to 9-0 in the Missouri Valley Conference to match ISU’s best start in league play and the program’s most-consecutive conference wins. Illinois State’s 1982-83 team also began 9-0 in the MVC before suffering a loss in game 10.
ISU additionally secured its 17th-straight victory at Redbird Arena dating back to last season which matches an arena record for consecutive wins, also achieved between the 1996-97 and 1997-98 seasons. The 17-game streak ties for the fourth-longest home court winning streak during Illinois State’s NCAA Division I era.
PODCAST: Listen here to the post-game interview with Redbird coach Dan Muller.
PODCAST: Listen here to the post-game interview with Paris Lee.
The Redbirds hit the midway point of MVC play by earning their first regular-season series sweep against Indiana State (7-14, 1-8 MVC) since 2005. Illinois State’s Deontae Hawkins achieved his fourth double-double of the season and the fifth of his career by scoring 19 points with 12 rebounds. Phil Fayne also scored 19 points, and Paris Lee added 18 points with six assists and two steals. Brenton Scott led Indiana State with 15 points.
Illinois State shot 20-for-49 (40.8 percent) from the field, while Indiana State shot 24-for-57 (42.1 percent). The Redbirds also outrebounded the Sycamores, 40-31. In a game that saw eight lead changes and eight ties, Illinois State led for 18:29, Indiana State led for 18:32, and the contest was tied for 2:59.
Hawkins drained a 3-pointer from the left wing to start the game, but Scott answered with a trifecta on the other end. Fayne then scored seven-straight points to build a 10-3 Redbird lead on a jumper at the 17:07 mark. After the Sycamores responded with a 6-0 run to make it a one-point game, 15-14, Lee buried a 3-pointer which sparked a 5-0 Redbird run.
However, Indiana State answered with a 13-2 run from 10:53 until a Niels Bunschoten jumper at the 2:17 mark which lifted the Sycamores to a 27-22 advantage. DJ Clayton stopped the scoring drought by netting a 3-pointer with 1:56 remaining in the first half, and Illinois State outscored Indiana State, 6-3, in the final two minutes to cut the Sycamores’ halftime lead to 30-28. Fayne led all first-half scorers with 12 points.
After Indiana State extended its advantage to 34-30, the Redbirds outscored the Sycamores, 8-4, to tie the game, 38-38, on a Lee jumper with 15:26 remaining. The teams proceeded to exchange baskets until a 6-1 run pushed Indiana State to a 49-44 lead on a TJ Bell layup at the 10:06 mark. A Hawkins free throw followed by a MiKyle McIntosh fastbreak layup pulled the Redbirds within 49-47 with 9:07 to play.
Indiana State manufactured a 5-0 run to build a seven-point lead, 54-47, at the 8:10 mark, but the Redbirds answered with an 8-0 run, including back-to-back 3-pointers by Hawkins and Tony Wills, followed by two McIntosh free throws, to push Illinois State ahead, 55-54, with 6:40 remaining. And, after Jordan Barnes netted a 3-pointer, Lee answered with a trifecta to make the score 58-57. A pair of Hawkins free throws extended the Redbird lead to 60-57 at the 3:46 mark.
Two free throws by Bell allowed Indiana State to regain the advantage, 61-60, with 2:51 remaining, and a pair of Lee free throws on the other end gave Illinois State a 62-61 advantage. A layup by Bell pushed Indiana State ahead once again, but McIntosh hit a jumper in the lane, and Hawkins lost his defender and netted a layup to increase Illinois State’s lead to 66-63.
The Sycamores again answered, as Jordan Barnes buried a baseline 3-pointer to tie the game, 66-66, with 1:01 to play. Lee was fouled 14 seconds later and made both free throws. As Indiana State attempted to respond, McIntosh blocked a layup attempt by Scott, and Hawkins made one of two free throws after the Sycamores opted to foul, which extended Illinois State’s advantage to 69-66 with 21 seconds left. After Matt Van Scyoc’s potential game-tying three-point attempt was off the mark, Lee rebounded and was fouled. He proceeded to make both free throws with two seconds remaining to secure the 71-66 victory.
Illinois State next plays at Evansville Sunday at 3 p.m. on ESPN3 and WJBC 1230-AM. The Redbirds then return to Doug Collins Court at Redbird Arena next Wednesday, Feb. 1 to host Northern Iowa at 8 p.m. For tickets to Illinois State home games, navigate to GoRedbirds.com/Tickets, call (309) 438-8000 or visit the Illinois State Athletics Ticket Office at the north entrance to Redbird Arena.
