By WJBC Staff
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – A game that featured nine lead changes and six ties was destined to come down to the final shot, with Missouri State getting the last look against Illinois State. The Redbird defense held (22-5, 14-1 MVC), as the shot bounced off the rim and ISU came away with a hard-fought 67-66 win on the road against the Bears (15-13, 6-9 MVC) Wednesday night at JQH Arena.
Illinois State was led in scoring by Deontae Hawkins, who scored a game-high 19 points including a 3-for-5 effort from 3-point range and added three rebounds in the win. Tony Wills and DJ Clayton each finished in double figures as well with 12 points apiece and reigning MVC Player of the Week Paris Lee had another solid effort with nine points, six assists and four steals against the Bears. MiKyle McIntosh also returned to the lineup for the first time since Jan. 25 and finished with nine points on 4-of-7 shooting from the field.
PODCAST: Listen here to the post-game interview with Redbird coach Dan Muller.
After Missouri State jumped out to an 8-4 advantage, Illinois State answered with a 14-4 run – including six points from Lee – to lead, 18-12, on a step-back jumper by McIntosh at the 11:50 mark. Following a pair of Missouri State free throws, five-straight Redbird points lifted ISU ahead, 23-14, with 7:53 remaining. Defensively, Illinois State held the Bears without a field goal for more than seven minutes, from 14:49 until a Jarrid Rhodes 3-pointer at the 7:34 mark.
Rhodes’ trifecta sparked a 15-4 Missouri State run which allowed the Bears to take a 29-27 lead on another Rhodes 3-pointer with 2:18 left in the half. A pair of Clayton free throws tied the game, 29-29, at the 1:47 mark; however, MSU outscored ISU, 4-0, in the final minute for a 33-29 halftime advantage. Rhodes finished the first half shooting a perfect 3-for-3 from three-point range, while Lee and Clayton each scored six points for Illinois State.
Rhodes extended Missouri State’s advantage with a jumper to start the second half, as the Bears outscored Illinois State, 7-3, over the first three minutes to lead, 40-32. Lee buried a 3-pointer which pulled ISU within 40-35 at the 16:06 mark. After MSU regained an eight-point lead, 43-35, the Redbirds manufactured a 12-2 run, which included five points by McIntosh, and ISU took a 47-45 advantage on a Hawkins 3-pointer at the 11:38 mark.
The teams proceeded to exchange baskets for the next eight minutes until, with the game tied 60-60, Illinois State went on a 7-2 run from 3:14 until 1:46 to take a 67-62 lead on back-to-back Hawkins field goals. A pair of Jarred Dixon free throws followed by a Dequon Miller jumper cut the Redbird advantage to 67-66 with 34 seconds remaining.
Missouri State intentionally fouled, and after Lee missed the front end of a one-and-one with 30 seconds to play, Obediah Church was fouled and proceeded to miss both free throws. Clayton then rebounded and was immediately fouled. However, Clayton missed the front end of his one-and-one, Missouri State rebounded, but a last second three-point attempt by Miller rimmed out, and Illinois State secured the 67-66 win.
With just three regular-season games remaining, the Redbirds return to Doug Collins Court at Redbird Arena for their final two regular-season home contests, beginning with Sunday’s 3 p.m. matchup against Loyola Chicago followed by Wednesday’s 6 p.m. Senior Day showdown versus Southern Illinois at 6 p.m.
