Redbirds fall to Vermont on Wednesday
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[December 02, 2013]
SAN
FRANCISCO
— Despite leading by as many as 18 points in the first half,
Illinois State could not hold off Vermont's second-half rally, as the
Redbirds (1-4) lost to the Catamounts (2-5) 87-76 Wednesday night at War
Memorial Gymnasium.
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With the loss, ISU was 0-1 in the University of San Francisco Golden
Gate Challenge, with games against Sonoma State and host USF
scheduled for Friday and Saturday, respectively.Zach Lofton led
four Redbirds in double figures with a career-high 19 points on
7-for-15 shooting, plus two steals. Meanwhile, Vermont's Sandro
Carissimo netted a game-best 24 points, with 19 coming in the second
half alone.
Illinois State shot a season-best 55.2 percent in the first half
on the way to a 43-31 halftime lead. The Redbirds established a
double-digit advantage with a 10-2 run capped off by a Nick Zeisloft
3-pointer at the 9:30 mark. However, Vermont found its footing in
the second half and began chipping away at the deficit. The
Catamounts shot 65.5 percent in the second stanza, outscoring ISU by
22 points.
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Carissimo drained two 3-pointers as part of a 15-5 run, and
Vermont cut the lead to 56-55 midway through the second half. The
Redbirds responded, as Daishon Knight — who finished with 12 points,
four assists and three steals — made a pair of free throws to extend
ISU's advantage to 62-57 with 8:37 remaining.
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However, Vermont's Hector Harold drained a 3-pointer at the
7:19 mark, tying the game at 63. Later, tied at 65, Vermont went
on a 16-4 run to open a 79-67 lead with 2:58 left. Clancy Rugg
scored 10 of his 21 points during the stretch, and the Redbirds
never recovered.
Despite the loss, ISU finished the game with a season-best 50
percent effort from the field.
Illinois State resumed play in the USF Golden Gate Challenge on
Friday against Sonoma State. (See
report.)
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Box
score (PDF)
[Text from
news release received from
Illinois State University]
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