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Second-half lapse sinks 'Birds
in first exhibition
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[NOV. 11, 2003]
NORMAL
-- Sophomore Neil Plank tossed in a game-high 18 points for
Illinois State, but it wasn't enough, as the Redbirds fell 78-71 to
the EA Sports All-Stars Monday night at Redbird Arena in exhibition
basketball.
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The Redbirds overcame
a one-point halftime deficit in the first minute of the second frame
to take a four-point lead, 33-29, their largest of the game.
Gregg Alexander
of Lincoln tossed in a 3-pointer at the 18:51 mark to put the 'Birds
up by two. After an Alexander steal, Marcus Arnold dropped in a
layup for the lead.
The Redbirds held
their four-point edge on another trey by Alexander at the 16:44
mark, but a 14-4 run by the EA Sports All-Stars gave the visitors a
51-42 advantage and a lead they would never relinquish. The Redbirds
closed the gap to 61-57 after a Plank layup at the 5:48 mark, but
again the All-Stars responded with a 9-0 run to put the game away.
[to top of second column in this
article]
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With 10:07 in the
first half, an Arnold basket gave the Redbirds their only lead of
the frame at 15-13. The 'Birds managed to stay close in the first 20
minutes, despite shooting only 2-for-10 on treys, overcoming their
largest deficit of six points to close within one, 29-28, at the
half. The Redbird defense was largely responsible by forcing EA
Sports into 18 first-half turnovers.
Arnold finished with
16 points and six boards but was 6-for-21 from the field. Alexander
chipped in 11. EA Sports was led by Robert O'Kelley's 16 tallies off
the bench, while Clay Tucker and Cory Largent tossed in 11 and 10
points respectively.
For their second and final exhibition
game, the Redbirds return to action on Nov. 16 against Global
Sports. Tipoff is scheduled for 6:05 p.m.
[Todd Kober, director of
athletics media relations,
Illinois State University] |
