By ISU Sports Information
VALPARAISO, Ind. – After the Illinois State Redbirds closed a seven-point second-half deficit to just two, the Valparaiso Crusaders opened a 16-2 run to push ahead by 16, and never looked back in a Sunday afternoon 74-58 Crusader victory.
How It Happened
The Redbirds jumped out first on a lay-in by Milik Yarbrough, before Valparaiso drained a three-pointer for the first of nine lead changes in the contest. Illinois State eventually pushed ahead to a five-point lead – its largest lead of the game – and held its five-point advantage when Elijah Clarance made a lay-in, pushing the Redbirds ahead to a 24-19 lead with just over eight minutes to play in the first half. The Crusaders followed by scoring the next six points to take its first lead since the early portions of the first half. Yarbrough gave the Redbirds the lead back at 26-25; however, a three-pointer by Tevonn Walker put Valpo ahead by two, and the Crusaders would not trail again in the game, and took a 37-35 lead into the locker room at halftime.
The back-and-forth continued in the second half, as Daouda N’Diaye made a free throw to cut the deficit to one, and he again cut the deficit to one with a dunk a minute later. Valparaiso pushed ahead and led by six at 46-40. The lead reached as high as seven before Yarbrough made a lay-in, and Taylor Bruninga a three-pointer with 7:25 to cut the deficit to two; however, Valparaiso opened its 16-2 run, and closed the door in the 74-58 Crusader win.\
Key Moment
Bakari Evelyn made a three-point basket immediately after Bruninga brought the score within two, kick-starting Valparaiso’s 16-2 run.
Inside the Box Score
- William Tinsley scored a team-best 13 points, making 3-of-8 from long range, while also pulling down six rebounds
- Yarbrough recorded a 10-point, 10-rebound double-double, while also dishing out a team-high five assists.
- Madison Williams, Clarance, and Bruninga each scored eight points for the Redbirds in the loss.
- Williams dished out four assists while he and Tinsley nabbed three steals.
- Illinois State made 53.8 percent (14-of-26) of its shots from the field in the first half, but made just 8-of-32 (25.0 percent) in the second 20 minutes of action..
Stat of the Game
5: The double-double was Yarbrough’s fifth this season.
What’s Next
The Redbirds remain on the road when the team travels to Peoria, Illinois, to take on the Bradley Braves in a Valentine’s Day meeting..
