 ISU was led by Daishon Knight, who connected on 50 percent of his
shot attempts from the field, scoring 17 points. Knight also pulled
down a career-high nine rebounds, all coming at the defensive end,
in 36 minutes. John Jones was the only other Redbird to score in
double figures, as he tied a career-high 12 points, scoring nine
straight in the first half.
Illinois State shot 44 percent from the field, while Texas A&M
connected on 34 percent of its shot attempts. The Aggies were led by
Antwan Space, who netted 15 points as three A&M players scored in
double figures. Nick Zeisloft pulled down a career-high eight
rebounds of ISU's 41, six more than Texas A&M.
The Redbirds got on the board first, but a four-minute scoring
drought and a 7-0 run by Texas A&M gave the Aggies a 7-2 advantage
five minutes into the game. Illinois State regrouped and scored five
straight to tie the game at 7-7 thanks to a jumper by Bobby Hunter
and an and-one play by Paris Lee. The two teams traded baskets, but
the Aggies maintained a lead until Jones netted nine straight points
for the Redbirds, giving the 19-16 lead to ISU with 7:14 on the
clock in the opening half. Jones was the offensive attack for ISU
for nearly 2 1/2 minutes, but Knight added a jumper to increase the
lead to five and the run to 11-0 in favor of the Redbirds.
Texas A&M was scoreless from the floor for five minutes, but the
struggle didn't last long, and the Aggies scored eight straight to
regain a three-point lead. After four minutes without a basket from
the field, Jones went back to work and pulled ISU within one with
1:38 left before the break. Then Zeisloft hit a 3 from the top of
the key to tie the game 27-27, which is how the two teams headed
into the locker room at the break.
[to top of second column] |
The two teams exchanged points early in the second half, but a 3
by Lee gave the Redbirds a one-point lead at 33-32 at the 15:53
mark. After two more ties, Knight scored seven of ISU's next 11
points to give Illinois State a four-point lead, 44-40, with 10:11
left to play. Texas A&M connected on two jumpers to tie the game,
but a 6-0 run by ISU, including a 3 from Zeisloft and a jumper by
Knight, gave the Redbirds a 50-44 advantage with just under seven
minutes left in the game.
Late in the game, the Aggies tried to shift momentum in their
favor, but a charge taken by Hunter and turnovers by A&M gave extra
chances to ISU. Lynch maximized off the extra chances, as he scored
six straight points, amounting to a 58-51 lead by the Redbirds with
2:19 to play. The seven-point lead was the largest in the game for
either team. With just over a minute to play, A&M's Space connected
on a layup to pull the Aggies within three at 58-55. A late
offensive board by Lynch forced Texas A&M to foul. Knight connected
from the charity stripe on four straight attempts to secure the
62-55 victory over the Aggies.
With the win, the Redbirds continue CBI play later in the week,
with game information to be announced. The final four teams in the
tournament will be reseeded before the next games are scheduled. For
upcoming game information, check
GoRedbirds.com.
[Text from
news release received from
Illinois State University] |
