Redbird men prevail in OT over BYU

Posted on November 28, 2018
Illinois State improved to 6-2 with a 92-89 overtime win over BYU on Wednesday at Redbird Arena. (Greg Halbleib/WJBC)

By Greg Halbleib

NORMAL – Illinois State men’s basketball converted two free throws with just over two seconds left in regulation to tie the game and held off an overtime surge to defeat Brigham Young 92-89 on Wednesday night at Redbird Arena.

The Redbirds (6-2) trailed 40-31 at halftime as BYU (5-3) continued its advantage until a Josh Jefferson layup gave ISU its first lead with 4:33 remaining in regulation. The Birds tied the game with two seconds left on a pair of free throws by Zach Copeland.

Illinois State took its biggest lead of the game with 3:19 left in the extra session at 85-79, but BYU took one last lead at 89-88 with 1:04 remaining. The Redbirds made three of their last four free throws and a final three-point Cougars attempt fell short at the horn.

Phil Fayne led the Redbirds with 20 points and 10 rebounds. All five ISU starters scored in double figures as Milik Yarbrough added 19 points, Josh Jefferson 17, Keyshawn Evans 15 and Copeland 14. Yoeli Childs led BYU with 27 points and 16 rebounds with 22 points from T.J. Haws.

Illinois State hosts San Diego State at 2 p.m. Saturday on Doug Collins Court. Pre-game on AM 1230, 93.7 Nash Icon, WJBC.com and the TuneIn app begins at 1 p.m.

Greg Halbleib can be reached at [email protected]. 

Blogs

Labor Day – Expanding voting rights for all

By Mike Matejka Because of COVID, there is no Labor Day Parade this year.  It’s always a great event for our everyday workers to march proudly down the street and enjoys the festive crowd. If there had been a parade, this year’s Labor Day theme was to be “150 years of struggle: your right to vote.” …

Is federal mobilization the answer?

By Mike Matejka As President Donald Trump threatens to send federal marshals into Chicago, over the objections of Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, recall another Illinois Governor who protested the incursion of armed federal personnel into the city.   Those federal troops, rather than calming, escalated the situation, leading to deaths and violence. Illinois poet Vachel Lindsay…

In these troubled times, to my fellow white Americans

By Mike Matejka Our nation is at a unique watershed in human relations. African-Americans have been killed too many times in the past before George Floyd, but the response to this man’s death is international and all-encompassing. I was a grade-schooler during the Civil Rights 1960s. I watched Birmingham demonstrators hosed and the Selma – Montgomery…

Workers’ Memorial Day – Remember those whose job took their life

Looking around our community, when we say employer, most will respond to State Farm, Country, or Illinois State University.   We too often forget those who are building our roads, serving our food, or our public employees. COVID-19 has made us more aware of the risk.  Going to work every day for some people means…