By WJBC Staff
ST. LOUIS – Illinois State’s 2016-17 Missouri Valley Conference men’s basketball schedule, which tips off with a Dec. 29 home game against Evansville, was released by the league office Tuesday.
After opening MVC play on Doug Collins Court at Redbird Arena for the third-straight season, the Redbirds will face their first league road test on New Year’s Day, Jan. 1, at Loyola. In another MVC road game, Illinois State and Bradley resume the I-74 Rivalry series in Peoria, Illinois, Jan. 18. The Braves will later travel to Redbird Arena for a Saturday, Feb. 11 matchup.
Illinois State and defending MVC regular-season champion and 2016 NCAA qualifier Wichita State first meet Saturday, Jan. 14 in Normal. The Shockers will then host ISU Saturday, Feb. 4 in Wichita, Kansas. Defending MVC Tournament champion and 2016 NCAA qualifier Northern Iowa first visits Doug Collins Court at Redbird Arena Feb. 1, and Illinois State ends the regular season at UNI Feb. 25. ISU will celebrate senior night Feb. 22 versus Southern Illinois, a week ahead of the 2017 State Farm MVC Tournament, March 2-5, at Scottrade Center in St. Louis.
Led by fifth-year head coach Dan Muller, Illinois State returns four of five starters and seven of 11 letterwinners from last year’s team, which finished 18-14 overall and tied for second place with a 12-6 mark in the MVC, signifying ISU’s highest league finish and most conference wins since 2007-08.
ISU’s top returning scorer is senior guard Paris Lee, who averaged 11.1 points per game to rank 20th in the league, and was an MVC Honorable Mention and All-Defensive Team selection last season. Additionally, Lee is the league’s top returner in assists after averaging 3.7 per contest in 2015-16. Junior forward Deontae Hawkins led the Redbirds and ranked ninth in the MVC by averaging 5.8 rebounds per game. ISU’s other two returning starters include senior guard Tony Wills and junior forward MiKyle McIntosh.
To renew or purchase season tickets, fans are encouraged to contact the Illinois State Athletics Ticket Office either online by navigating to GoRedbirds.com/Tickets, in-person by entering through the north doors to Redbird Arena, or over the phone by calling (309) 438-8000.
NOVEMBER
6 Quincy (Exhibition)
11 at Murray State
16 IPFW
21 at TCU
27 Ferris State
30 IUPUI
DECEMBER
3 New Mexico ••
7 at Tulsa
10 UT Martin
18 Saint Joseph’s
23 vs. Hawai’i ••• 12:30 a.m. ESPN2
23 vs. San Francisco or Utah ••• …TBD
25 vs. TBD at Diamond Head Classic •••
29 Evansville •
JANUARY
1 at Loyola •
4 Missouri State •
7 at Indiana State •
11 at Southern Illinois •
14 Wichita State •
18 at Bradley •
21 Drake •
25 Indiana State •
29 at Evansville •
FEBRUARY
1 Northern Iowa •
4 at Wichita State •
7 at Drake •
11 Bradley •
15 at Missouri State •
19 Loyola •
22 Southern Illinois •
25 at Northern Iowa •
MARCH
2-5 at State Farm MVC Tournament (Scottrade Center – St. Louis)
• Missouri Valley Conference Game
•• Mountain West/Missouri Valley Challenge
••• Hawaiian Airlines Diamond Head Classic (Stan Sheriff Center – Honolulu, Hawaii)
