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 The Redbirds (9-4, 0-1 MVC) were led by Jackie Carmichael's
double-double of 13 points and 14 rebounds. He also blocked two
shots to tie former Redbird Greg Dilligard for the Illinois State
career blocked-shots record of 160. Zeke Upshaw matched a career
high with nine points on three 3-pointers for the Redbirds, while
Justin Gant paced Indiana State (8-4, 1-0 MVC) with 18 points and 11
rebounds.
The first five minutes of Saturday's game were evenly matched, with
the Redbirds leading 9-8 after the first four minutes. Indiana State
then went on a 7-0 run to take an 18-13 advantage, but Tyler Brown
responded with two straight 3s to pull the Redbirds within 22-19
with 9:12 remaining. A Zeisloft 3 tied the game 27-27 at the 4:39
mark. However, the Sycamores ended the first half on a 9-0 run to
lead 36-27 at the intermission. Illinois State was held to 25.7
percent shooting from the field in the first half.
 Indiana State built an 11-point lead, its largest of the game, at
47-36, five minutes into the second half. Later, with the Sycamores
ahead 58-48, Johnny Hill answered with seven straight points,
including a 3, followed by a steal, a fast-break layup and two free
throws, to pull Illinois State within 60-55 with 8:08 left in the
game.
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The Sycamores responded with an 8-3 run to regain a 10-point
advantage with five minutes remaining. They then extended their lead
to 73-62 with 3:41 left on a layup by Devonte Brown. However,
Illinois State's defense prevented Indiana State from netting
another field goal, while the Redbirds outscored the Sycamores 13-4
over the final 3:20. Upshaw hit back-to-back 3-pointers to pull
Illinois State within 75-73 with 34 seconds remaining.
Manny Arop then made one of two free throws after being fouled at
the 30-second mark. Bryant Allen netted a layup on the other end to
pull the Redbirds within 76-75 with 18 seconds remaining. With time
running out, Carmichael fouled Gant, who made his first free throw
but missed his second, increasing Indiana State's advantage to 77-75
with seven seconds to play. Zeisloft had a good look at a deep
3-pointer with three seconds remaining, but the shot rimmed out and
Gant rebounded to preserve the Sycamores' victory. The Redbirds shot
51.9 percent in the second half.
With Illinois State's Valley opener in the books, the Redbirds
return to Doug Collins Court at Redbird Arena for their first MVC
home game, against No. 12 Creighton, on Wednesday 7:05 p.m.
Remaining tickets can be purchased by calling the ticket office at
Redbird Arena, 309-438-8000, by visiting the ticket office or at
GoRedbirds.com. [Text from
news release received from
Illinois State University]
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