By WJBC Staff
NORMAL – On Senior Night, fifth-year head coach Dan Muller recorded his 100th-career victory as the Illinois State men’s basketball team held off Southern Illinois, 50-46, Wednesday to seal an undefeated, 15-0, regular-season home record, which marked ISU’s first-ever undefeated campaign at Redbird Arena.
With one regular-season game remaining, the Redbirds improved to 24-5 overall and 16-1 in the Missouri Valley Conference. ISU matched its program record for both regular-season victories (24-4 in 1977-78) and MVC wins (16-2 in 1997-98). Additionally, Illinois State increased its home-court winning streak to 21-straight games dating back to the 2015-16 season, which ranks as ISU’s third-longest during the Division I era.
Senior guard Tony Wills matched a career high with 16 points on a career-best six field goals, including four 3-pointers in the winning effort. Wills also forced a career-best five steals and collected five rebounds and two assists. He was joined in double-figures by fellow senior Paris Lee who netted 10 points. Sophomore forward Phil Fayne recorded his third-career double-double with a career-high 15 rebounds plus 11 points.
PODCAST: Listen here to a post-game interview with Redbird coach Dan Muller.
PODCAST: Listen here to the post-game interview with Redbird senior Tony Wills.
Southern Illinois was led by Thik Bol’s 12 points and seven rebounds. SIU shot 18-for-46 (39.1 percent) from the field, while Illinois State shot 18-for-53 (34.0 percent). However, the Redbirds outrebounded the Salukis, 41-33. ISU also teamed up to record five blocks and seven steals, as Southern Illinois fell to 15-15 overall and 8-9 in the MVC.
With all four seniors in the starting lineup, senior forward Deontae Hawkins won the tipoff, and Wills netted a 3-pointer to put Illinois State on the board first. After a three-point play by Bol, Wills scored another trifecta which made the score 6-3. Southern Illinois answered with a 7-3 run to take a 10-9 advantage at the 14:51 mark.
The Redbirds then manufactured a 7-0 run to lead, 16-10, on a Keyshawn Evans 3-pointer with 12:37 remaining. An ensuing 10-2 Saluki run lifted SIU ahead, 20-18, at the 5:07 mark. Lee stopped a six-minute scoring drought by netting a jumper with 4:44 left in the first half which sparked a 9-3 Redbird run and pushed Illinois State to a 27-23 lead. A pair of Saluki free throws in the final 90 seconds trimmed ISU’s halftime lead to 27-25.
The Redbirds started the second half with a 9-1 run, including 3-pointers by Wills and Lee, to build a 36-26 lead on a Fayne layup at the 16:28 mark. Southern Illinois responded by manufacturing a 15-2 run, which pushed SIU ahead 41-38 with 6:37 to play. Lee stopped the drought by driving in the lane, drawing a foul, and making both free throws to pull the Redbirds within 41-40. ISU then forced a shot clock violation and Wills drained a 3-pointer, as the Redbirds went on a 10-0 run from 6:23 until 3:23 to lead, 48-41, on two Fayne free throws.
Southern Illinois made one final push by scoring five-unanswered points to pull within 48-46 on a Mike Rodriguez jumper at the 1:39 mark. Fayne stopped the run by collecting an offensive rebound and scoring a layup with 1:07 remaining. Illinois State’s defense then shut out the Salukis in the final minute, as Hawkins recorded a block and Wills forced a steal to secure the Redbird victory.
Illinois State travels to Cedar Falls, Iowa next, for its regular-season finale Saturday at 1 p.m. versus Northern Iowa (14-14, 9-8 MVC). The Redbirds enter Saturday’s game tied with Wichita State (26-4, 16-1 MVC) for first place in the league standings. The Shockers visit Missouri State Saturday for an 11 a.m. tipoff. The Redbirds are aiming for their first regular-season Missouri Valley Conference title since 1998. Saturday’s ISU at UNI game can be seen live on CBS Sports Network and heard on WJBC 1230-AM.
