By WJBC Staff
DES MOINES, Ia. – Senior guard Paris Lee scored a career-high 26 points, six of which occurred during an 18-5 second-half run, which helped push the Illinois State men’s basketball team to an 82-53 Missouri Valley Conference win over Drake Tuesday night at the Knapp Center. Sophomore guard Keyshawn Evans also netted a career high with 16 points in the victorious effort.
After Drake (7-17, 5-7 MVC) overcame a three-point halftime deficit to lead by one point for 14 seconds, one-and-a-half minutes into the second half, Illinois State (19-5, 11-1 MVC) answered with an 18-5 run to build a double-digit lead which the Redbirds never relinquished. The Redbirds limited Drake to 19 second-half points en route to the victory which keeps ISU atop the MVC standings with Wichita State.
PODCAST: Listen here to Redbird coach Dan Muller’s post-game interview.
PODCAST: Listen here to a post-game interview with Redbird Keyshawn Evans.
ISU shot 34-for-59 (57.6 percent) from the field and held Drake to 17-for-62 (27.4 percent) shooting. The Redbirds also outrebounded the Bulldogs, 37-34, and Illinois State recorded seven steals versus three by DU.
Following an initial 2-0 Drake lead, ISU responded with a 9-2 run to build a 9-4 advantage on an offensive rebound and ensuing jumper by Tony Wills at the 15:18 mark. The teams proceeded to exchange baskets until Drake manufactured a 9-2 run from 11:53 until 7:41 to take a 21-20 advantage.
After Lee answered with a 3-pointer, the Bulldogs scored eight-straight points to lead by six points, 29-23, at the 5:17 mark. Then, with 3:11 remaining and Drake still ahead by six, 34-28, Illinois State went on a 9-0 run over the final three minutes to take a 37-34 halftime advantage. Deontae Hawkins netted four points during the closing stretch and finished the first half with 10 points, while Lee scored 15 points to lead all first-half scorers.
Reed Timmer made four-straight free throws to start the second half and regain a one-point Bulldog advantage at 39-38. The Redbirds responded with an 18-5 run from 18:35 until 11:41 to build a 55-43 lead. Lee netted six points during the stretch. Illinois State later went on a 20-0 run and held Drake scoreless for 6:34, as the Redbirds led by as many as 31 points in the winning effort.
After completing a stretch of four games in 10 days in four different cities, the Redbirds return to Doug Collins Court at Redbird Arena Saturday, Feb. 11 to host Bradley at 9 p.m. For tickets to Illinois State home games, navigate to GoRedbirds.com/Tickets, call (309) 438-8000 or visit the Illinois State Athletics Ticket Office at the north entrance to Redbird Arena.
