Late Redbird Comeback Falls Short, Fall to Sycamores 63-61

[January 02, 2015]  NORMAL - Tony Wills scored 11 of his 16 points late in the second half, as Illinois State attempted to erase an Indiana State double-digit lead, but a last-second pass attempt was stolen as the Redbirds (8-5, 0-1 MVC) fell to the Sycamores (5-8, 1-0 MVC) by a score of 63-61 in the Missouri Valley Conference opener for both teams Wednesday afternoon on Doug Collins Court at Redbird Arena.

Wills set a new career-high with his 16 points and was joined in double figures by MiKyle McIntosh, who added 11 points and five rebounds for the Redbirds. Bobby Hunter finished with nine points, thanks to a 3-for-4 effort from beyond the arc, and Paris Lee added seven points. Tre Bennett led the way for the Sycamores with 15 points on 4-for-5 shooting from the field.

The Redbirds jumped out to an early 6-3 lead on a three-pointer from Bobby Hunter, before Indiana State’s Tre Bennett tied the game at 6-6 at the 12:50 mark with a three-pointer of his own. From there, the Sycamores went scoreless for over six minutes and committed eight turnovers, which allowed the Redbirds to rip off 12-straight points to take an 18-6 lead with just over eight minutes left in the first half on a layup by Daishon Knight.

The Sycamores ended their six-plus minute scoring drought on a three-pointer by Bennett, which cut the ISU lead in half at 18-9 with just over five minutes remaining in the first half. The run would extend out to 10-0, after Jake Kitchell scored four-straight points on a pair of free throws and a put-back layup, to cut the lead to 18-16 with 3:09 left in the half.
 

A tip-in by Will Ransom with 1:44 left gave the Redbirds a four-point lead at 22-18, but a pair of free throws from Bennett cut the lead back to two points 22-20 seconds later. On the next trip down the floor, Justin McCloud nailed a three-pointer from the top of the arc to extend the Illinois State lead to 25-20 before Scott connected on his second three-pointer of the half to cut the lead back to two points at 25-23 with 44 seconds left in the half. Both teams were unable to convert on their next possession and the Redbirds took their two-point lead into the locker room at the break.

Illinois State extended its lead to 30-25 just a minute into the second half, before the Sycamores ripped off an 8-2 run to take their first lead since the beginning of the game. Scott connected on his third three-pointer of the game to put the Sycamores up 33-32 momentarily at the 16:22 mark, before Wills made a pair of free throws to give the Redbirds the lead right back at 34-33 at the first media timeout of the second half.

Indiana State answered immediately with a quick 4-0 run, on a jumper by TJ Bell and a layup by Devonte Brown, to take back the lead at 37-34 a minute later. The Sycamores maintained a single digit lead over the ensuing three minutes of play, before John Jones tied the game at 39-39 on a layup with 12:34 left in the game. The Sycamores scored the next six points to extend their lead to point at 45-39 with 9:23 remaining in the game and widened their advantage to 11 points at 51-40 on a three-pointer from the corner by Justin Gant.

Following the media timeout, the Redbirds scored four-straight points on a pair of free throws by McIntosh and a layup by Paris Lee on a steal on the in-bounds play. Lee then nailed a three-pointer from the corner to cut the Sycamores’ lead to six points at 53-47. Wills then converted on a traditional three-point play to cut the Sycamores’ lead to three points at 53-50. A layup by Brown increased the Indiana State lead back to five points at 55-50 with 4:23 to play, before McIntosh connected on a floater in the lane with 3:47 remaining in the game.

A three-pointer by Hunter, his third of the game, cut the Indiana State lead to one at 56-55 with three minutes left and a free throw by Knight tied the score at 56-56 thirty seconds later. A three-pointer by Gant with 1:22 left gave the Sycamores a 59-56 lead, before Wills answered with a three-pointer of his own from the corner to tie the game again at 59-59 seconds later.

Two free throws from Bennett put the Sycamores up 61-59 with 54 seconds left, but Wills answered again with a layup of his own to tie the game at 61-61 with 40 seconds remaining. Brown then put the Sycamores up by a basket with a jumper in the lane with 5.5 seconds remaining in the contest, as Illinois State called time out to set up the last shot. The Redbirds moved the ball down the court and Wills attempted a pass, but it was stolen and the Sycamores dribbled out the clock to secure the win.

The Redbirds return to action Saturday, Jan. 4, on the road against nationally-ranked Wichita State. Tipoff is scheduled for 4:30 p.m., with the game broadcast live on ESPNU.

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[Michael Williams, Illinois State University]