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The win moves Illinois State to 4-3 on
the year, while Western Kentucky drops to 1-6.
The Redbirds started the game off slow,
turning the ball over four times in the first four minutes of the
game, and did not score until the 16:00 mark, when Kevin Troc
assisted Najeeb Echols (three points) on a fast break, making the
score 10-2.
However, the 'Birds stayed close
because of deadly accuracy from the 3-point arc. Illinois State
scored nine of their first 11 points on 3s from Neil Plank (9
points), Gregg Alexander and Trey Guidry (14 points). Guidry also
knocked down three free throws after a foul from behind the arc,
tying the game 14-14.
The 'Birds tied the game again when a
jumper by Plank made the score 20-20, and a Marcus Arnold fadeaway
gave Illinois State their first lead of the night with 1:36 left in
the first half. Arnold, who was fouled on the play, sank the ensuing
free throw, giving his team a 27-24 lead.
Illinois State took a 29-26 lead into
the second half, and Arnold extended the advantage with his strong
play inside. He scored six points in the first three minutes, all
inside the paint.
After a free throw by Greg Dilligard
(10 rebounds) put the Redbirds up 37-32, the Hilltoppers took the
lead back on the strength of a 9-0 run that included four points
from Nigel Dixon and five from Anthony Winchester to give Western
Kentucky a 41-37 lead.
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in this article] |
Guidry tied the game at 41-41 with a
3-pointer midway through the second half. The 'Birds then regained
the lead 43-41 on a 10-footer from Plank.
A 3-pointer by Trey Guidry with 3:20
left in the game extended the Redbird lead to 52-45, and a rebound
basket by Dilligard made the score 54-47.
But Western Kentucky stepped up the
tempo on defense after a fast break layup by Arnold made the score
56-48. The Hilltoppers scored the next eight points, with four
coming off two Antonio Haynes steals.
Haynes split a pair of free throws with
25 seconds left, tying the game 56-56 and sending the contest into
overtime.
A layup by Mike Wells with 10.7 seconds
left in overtime gave the Hilltoppers a 65-64 lead, setting up
Greene's game-winning free throws.
The Redbirds open up Missouri Valley
Conference play on Saturday (Dec. 20) at 12:05 p.m., when they face
Northern Iowa at Redbird Arena.
[Illinois State University
news release]
[Click here
for LDN staff article on the game.]
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