'Birds hold off Wisconsin-Green Bay         

[DEC. 5, 2005]  NORMAL -- Illinois State held off a late surge by Wisconsin-Green Bay to claim its third straight win, 59-51, in front of 5,871 fans on Neal Cotts Day at Redbird Arena.

Wisconsin-Green Bay, 2-4, jumped out to a 5-0 lead to start the game, with freshman Ryan Tillema recording all five points on a 3-pointer and a pair of free throws. Meanwhile, the Redbirds, 4-1, turned the ball over on their first two possessions and lost defensive sparkplug Dana Ford at the 17:23 mark, after he picked up two quick fouls.

But it was all Illinois State after that, when Greg Dilligard's jumper from the right side with 15:42 remaining in the half kicked off an 18-2 run. Nedu Onyeuku followed with a free throw to tie it up at 7-7 as the Redbirds took the lead for good. Six players scored during the run, while the Phoenix suffered through a pair of five-minute scoring droughts during the decisive run.

The Phoenix cut into the Redbird lead with less than five minutes remaining in the half. Tillema once again led the way, with a 3-pointer, a layup and a pair of free throws, but the Redbirds still held onto a 26-20 lead at halftime.

Tillema led all scorers in the opening half, with 12 points and six rebounds. Onyeuku led the Redbirds' balanced scoring attack with six points as ISU held the Phoenix to 20 percent shooting from the field.

The Redbirds kept the Phoenix at arm's length for most of the second half, leading by no more than 10 points for most of the way. Wisconsin-Green Bay made its move with less than three minutes to go. Terry Evans hit a 3-pointer with 2:30 left to cut the ISU lead to five. Neil Plank countered with a layup, but the Phoenix got back-to-back baskets by Mike Schachtner and Evans to make it 52-49. But that was as close as the Phoenix got, as the Redbirds iced the win with one last field goal and free throws by Plank, Dilligard and Levi Dyer.

Illinois State, which shot 61 percent from the field in the second half, had three players in double figures. Plank and Dilligard led the 'Birds with 13 points each, while Onyeuku was also in double figures with 11. Wisconsin-Green Bay's Tillema led all scorers with 19, while Evans chipped in 11.

Next up for the Redbirds is a 7:05 p.m. matchup with Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne at Redbird Arena on Tuesday.

[Illinois State University news release from Heather Freehill, assistant media relations director]

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