Redbirds fall 76-62 at Indiana State

[January 28, 2014]  TERRE HAUTE, Ind. — Illinois State came back from a nine-point first-half deficit to briefly take a one-point lead with 4:15 left in the first half; however, Indiana State then outscored the Redbirds 16-4 to take an 11-point halftime advantage en route to a 76-62 win over Illinois State on Saturday evening at the Hulman Center.

Bobby Hunter led three Redbirds (11-9, 4-4 Missouri Valley Conference) in double figures with 13 points, while freshmen Paris Lee and Reggie Lynch both chipped in 11 points. Lynch also led ISU's rebounding effort with seven boards, plus he had two blocks and one steal. Indiana State's Manny Arop and Dawon Cummings both netted 14 points to lead the Sycamores (16-4, 7-1 MVC).

Indiana State jumped out to an early 18-9 advantage at the 12:16 mark following a 10-2 run. However, the Redbirds went on a 7-0 run to pull within 18-16 on a Hunter layup with 8:12 remaining in the first half. A 3-pointer by Kaza Keane edged Illinois State within one at 6:33, and a John Jones free throw tied the score at 23-23. Jones later gave the Redbirds their first and only lead on a free throw at the 4:15 mark, lifting Illinois State ahead 25-24.

However, Indiana State regained the lead — which it never relinquished — on a 3-pointer by Khristian Smith. After outscoring Illinois State 16-4 in the final four minutes of the first half, Indiana State also outscored the Redbirds 36-33 in the second half. The Sycamores shot 50 percent from the field, including 52.4 percent on 11-for-21 shooting from beyond the arc, while the Redbirds were held to 36.4 percent field goal shooting in the loss.

Illinois State now continues its two-game road trip by traveling to Peoria on Wednesday for the first of two matchups in the Interstate 74 rivalry with Bradley. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. at Carver Arena.

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Statistics: Illinois State vs. Indiana State  (PDF)

[Text from news release received from Illinois State University]