By ISU Sports Information

NORMAL, Ill. – Behind 23 points from both Phil Fayne and Milik Yarbrough, the Illinois State Redbirds jumped ahead early, and later rallied against a strong Missouri State squad on Sunday afternoon by a 72-68 final score.

How It Happened

Missouri State started out strong, riding the hot hand of senior Alize Johnson who drained three three-point baskets in the first four minutes of the game, pushing the Bears to a seven-point, 12-5 lead early in the game. Illinois State began chipping away at the deficit, before taking its first lead since the early portion of the game on a lay-in from Will Tinsley coming out of a media timeout. The Redbirds used an 8-0 run later to take a nine-point lead, as the hosts also used a first-half-ending 7-0 run to take a 38-29 lead into the locker room at halftime.

The second half lead grew to as many as 10 following a Fayne three-point play. Missouri State started to claw its way back, and re-took its lead with 4:44 to play on a tip-in from T.J. Miller. Missouri State was able to push its new advantage to as many as three, and led by two with 2:22 to play in the game before Fayne took over the game. He scored seven consecutive ISU points, including a three-point play, to push the Redbirds to a three-point lead, one they would not relinquish for the remainder of the game.

Key Moment

With 1:35 to play, Fayne received a pass from Yarbrough, dunked the ball while being fouled, and made the free throw, giving Illinois State a lead it would not give up for the remainder of the contest.

Inside the Box Score

• Yarbrough scored 23 points – the sixth time in the last seven games in which he’s scored at least 20 points – while dishing out four assists and picking up a career-high four steals.
• After being held to single-digit scoring for the first time this season against Drake, Fayne responded with 23 points – the second-highest total of his career – making 7-of-10 shots from the field, and 9-of-10 from the free throw line.
• Keyshawn Evans scored eight points, while also dishing out four assists and adding a steal.
• Isaac Gassman had three steals while pulling down two rebounds.
• Illinois State had a season-low six turnovers, while grabbing 11 steals.

Stat of the Game

6-21: Illinois State, who came into the game averaging nearly 10 three-point baskets per game, was held to just six makes against Missouri State. It was the third time that the Redbirds have been held to six or fewer three-point makes this season, and the team is 3-0 in those games (South Carolina, 5; UIC, 4).

Stat of the Game 2.0

9-10: After making just 1-of-9 free throws against UIC on December 19, Illinois State junior forward Phil Fayne made 9-of-10 free throws against Missouri State.

What’s Next
Illinois State remains at home, and hosts Loyola in a 7 p.m. tip-off at Doug Collins Court at Redbird Arena.