Knight leads Redbirds past I-74 rival Bradley 70-54

[February 18, 2014]  NORMAL — Junior forward Daishon Knight scored a career-high 26-points on 8-for-12 shooting, including 5 of 7 from beyond the 3-point arc, to lead Illinois State (14-12, 7-7 Missouri Valley Conference) over rival Bradley (11-16, 6-8 MVC) 70-54 Saturday evening on Doug Collins Court at Redbird Arena.

The victory marks the seventh consecutive for the Redbirds over the Braves at home and improved ISU's record at home to 9-3 on the season.

Daishon Knight scored ISU's first seven points on a pair of jumpers followed by a 3-pointer. Paris Lee then slashed through the lane to net a layup, Jamaal Samuel scored a two-handed dunk, and Bobby Hunter tallied a layup to pull ahead 13-2 at the 13:50 mark. Bradley responded with an 18-5 run, including seven points from Walt Lemon Jr., to take a 20-18 advantage with 6:02 remaining. Lee stopped the streak on a jumper in the lane to tie the game at 20-20.

The two teams exchanged baskets until Lee drained a 3-pointer, which regained a one-point ISU lead. Lee then netted two free throws to push the Redbird advantage to 29-26 at the 1:16 mark. With 33 seconds remaining, another free throw by Knight secured a 30-27 halftime lead for ISU.

Knight and Hunter each scored 10 first-half points, while Samuel earned a career-high eight rebounds in the opening stanza.

Knight buried back-to-back 3-pointers as Illinois State outscored Bradley 8-5 to start the second half. After Bradley pulled within three points at 38-35, the Redbirds answered with a 9-3 run to take a 44-35 advantage on a Hunter 3-pointer with 14:03 remaining. A Zach Lofton 3-pointer gave ISU a 10-point lead, as the Redbirds went 4 for 5 from beyond the arc at the beginning of the second half. Lynch's putback bucket widened Illinois State's advantage to 51-39 at the 11:18 mark.

Bradley used a 7-3 run to cut its deficit back to single digits at 55-47 on a Tyshon Pickett jumper with 6:27 to play. However, ISU quickly extended its advantage as Lee, Knight and Hunter hit consecutive 3-pointers to build a 64-48 lead. After the Braves cut it to 64-51, Lynch stuffed a Xzavier Taylor dunk attempt to halt the streak. Illinois State went on to outscore Bradley down the stretch to secure the victory.

Illinois State returns to action Tuesday, when they host Missouri State on Doug Collins Court at Redbird Arena at 7:05 p.m.

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ISU-Bradley notes   (PDF)

[Text from file received from Illinois State University]