By ISU sports information
NORMAL – Looking to secure its 12th win in a row and remain perfect in Missouri Valley Conference play, Illinois State looked to senior leader Paris Lee to guide the team against a surging Northern Iowa squad. The senior responded with a game-high 18 points and dished out five assists to lead ISU (19-4) to a 57-51 win over UNI (10-12, 5-6 MVC) Wednesday night on Doug Collins Court at Redbird Arena.
The win was the 18th straight win for the Redbirds at Redbird Arena dating back to last season, which set a school record. The Redbirds also improved to 11-0 in conference play to improve on their best start in MVC play.
Lee was joined in double figures by sophomore Phil Fayne, who recorded his second double-double of the season with 17 points and 10 rebounds. Senior Deontae Hawkins also finished in double digits with 11 points to go along with nine rebounds.
Fayne scored a backdoor layup to start the game before Jeremy Morgan lifted Northern Iowa ahead with a 3-pointer, which sparked an 8-2 Panther run. Hawkins answered with five-straight Redbird points to pull his team within 10-9. A Lee 3-pointer with 6:33 remaining then tied the game, 12-12, and sparked a 10-0 run to build a 21-12 lead at the 3:19 mark.
PODCAST: Listen here for a post-game interview with Phil Fayne.
PODCAST: Listen here for a post-game interview with Redbird coach Dan Muller.
ISU held Northern Iowa without a field goal from 8:57 until a Jordan Ashton layup with 47 seconds to play. Ashton followed with a 3-pointer to cut Illinois State’s halftime lead to 23-19. Lee led all first-half scorers with 10 points.
Northern Iowa started the second half with a 5-0 run which gave the Panthers a 24-23 advantage on a pair of Klint Carlson free throws. Illinois State answered with a 15-4 run from 17:26 until 7:39 to lead, 38-28, on a Hawkins jumper. After Juwan McCloud netted a 3-pointer, the Redbirds responded with a 7-2 run to lead, 45-33, on a Lee jumper with 5:27 remaining. Keyshawn Evans’ 3-pointer increased Illinois State’s advantage to 48-35 at the 4:31 mark.
UNI responded with an 8-2 run to pull within 50-43 with 2:07 remaining. Following a dunk by Hawkins that extended the lead back to nine points at 52-43 a half a minute later, UNI responded with a 3-pointer by Morgan to trim the lead back to six points at 52-46.
Evans then nailed a 3-pointer with 46 seconds left to widen the lead to 55-46, but once again the Panthers fought back with five-straight points to trim the Redbird lead to 55-51 with 14 seconds remaining. Lee would then ice the game at the free throw line with a pair of free throws with 11 seconds left.
The Redbirds return to the road next at Wichita State at 7 p.m. Saturday, live on ESPN2 and WJBC 1230-AM and wjbc.com. ISU’s next home game is Feb. 11 versus Bradley.
