 The Redbirds fell to 5-2 and the Cardinals improved to 6-1.ISU
shot 52.1 percent from the field, compared with 45.5 percent by
Louisville, but the Cardinals outrebounded the Redbirds 33-30. Both
teams collected 13 assists, while Illinois State committed 22
turnovers and Louisville was charged with 15. Russ Smith led the
Cardinals with 24 points.
Illinois State jumped out to a 7-2 lead before the first media
timeout, thanks to a 7-0 run with a dunk by Carmichael, followed by
a Bryant Allen jumper and a 3 by Brown. The Redbirds added to their
lead with seven more unanswered points, including a layup by
Carmichael, followed by a Nick Ziesloft steal and a fast-break dunk
by Brown. Carmichael netted another layup to increase ISU's lead to
14-2 with 12:54 left in the first half.
Smith broke the Redbird scoring streak with a steal and a
fast-break dunk. However, the Redbirds responded, as Brown netted
his second 3 of the game to give Illinois State a 17-4 advantage.
The Cardinals then went on a 6-2 run to pull closer at 19-10 with
10:29 remaining. Both teams proceeded to match each other, nearly
basket-for-basket, until Louisville scored five unanswered to cut
ISU's lead to 31-25 at the 2:17 mark. With under a minute to play,
Brown was fouled and made both free throws to secure a 33-25
Illinois State halftime advantage.
Much like Illinois State's run to start the game, the Cardinals
began the second half on a 10-2 streak to tie the game 35-35 with
17:31 remaining. A layup by Chane Behanan gave Louisville its first
lead since he scored the first basket of the game. But the
Cardinals' 37-35 advantage was short-lived, as the Redbirds
responded with a 6-2 run, on a tip-in by Brown and back-to-back
layups by Johnny Hill.
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The Redbirds later regained a five-point advantage with an
ally-oop dunk from Anthony Cousin to Carmichael, followed by a
Ziesloft 3-pointer. However, the Cardinals regained the lead at
58-57 with a Behanan jumper. Illinois State responded with a
jump shot by John Wilkins, who was also fouled, but he did not
make the free throw, and ISU's lead remained 61-60 with 4:25 to
play. An ensuing 3-pointer by Peyton Siva put Louisville ahead
for good, as he gave the Cardinals a 63-61 advantage at the 4:16
mark.
Another layup by Behanan was answered by a Carmichael layup, and
a layup by Siva was answered by an Allen 3-pointer to trim
Louisville's lead to 67-66 with 1:17 left. The Redbirds had a chance
to go back in front after Behanan missed two free throws, but
Carmichael missed a well-defended shot in the paint, and Jon Ekey
was forced to foul Siva, who proceeded to make both shots. Brown
attempted and missed a 3 with 18 seconds left, followed by another
with less than one second remaining, allowing Louisville to hold on
for the win.
Hill made his first career start after freshman point guard Kaza
Keane was sidelined with a sprained ankle suffered during practice
Thursday. Hill netted eight points with six assists, two rebounds
and one steal. Keane did not play Saturday.
With Illinois State's longest road trip of the regular season
complete, the Redbirds return to Normal, Ill., for three straight
home games -- against Wyoming on Tuesday night, Western Michigan on
Dec. 8 and Morgan State on Dec. 16. Tickets are available by calling
309-438-8000.
[Text from
news release received from
Illinois State University]
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