Redbirds to Battle Sycamores at Arch Madness Opener

ST. LOUIS - The Illinois State Redbirds open play in the Missouri Valley Conference tournament on Friday evening, when the third-seeded Redbirds take on the sixth-seeded Indiana State Sycamores at 8:30 p.m. in the final quarterfinal game.

GAME INFORMATION
Illinois State Redbirds (16-14, 10-8 MVC) vs. Indiana State Sycamores (13-17, 8-10 MVC)
When: Friday, March 2, 2018
Tip-Off: 8:30 p.m.
Location: St. Louis, Missouri
Arena: Scottrade Center
TV: MVC Network
   John Rooney, play-by-play
   Rich Zvosec, analyst
Radio: Illinois State Radio Network
    Dick Luedke, play-by-play
    Mike Matthews, analyst
Live Stats: MVC Tournament StatBroadcast

SETTING THE TABLE

•    Milik Yarbrough was selected as the Missouri Valley Conference Newcomer of the Year, becoming the sixth Redbird in program history to be named to the honor.
•    Additionally, Yarbrough became the 16th student-athlete in program history to be named to the All-Missouri Valley First Team. 
•    After William Tinsley's 21 points in the regular season finale at Loyola, Illinois State now has five players that have scored at least 20 points in a game this season. There are just nine other programs in the country with more individual 20+ point scorers this season.
•    Yarbrough is one of just three student-athletes in NCAA Division I basketball to rank inside of his conference's top five in points, rebounds, and assists.
•    The MVC Tournament first round game is the 200th game of head coach Dan Muller's coaching career. 
•    Yarbrough was named the Missouri Valley Conference Newcomer of the Week five times this season, which is tied for the fifth-most Newcomer of the Week Awards in a single season in Conference history.
•    Illinois State has used 14 different lineups in its 30 games this season, which are the ninth-most different lineups in the country this season.
•    Illinois State has played in five overtime games this season (with a 4-1 record in those games). That is the third-largest total of overtime games in a season in program history.
•    The Illinois State trio of Milik Yarbrough, Keyshawn Evans, and Phil Fayne are one of just four schools in NCAA Division I basketball with three student-athletes that average at least 15 points per game.
•    Phil Fayne's career shooting percentage of .597 (290-of-486) ranks 27th among current student-athletes.
•    Illinois State has faced off against six teams that have won at least 20 games this season, with two other teams sitting a win away from the plateau.
•    ISU's 120-78 record over the last six years is the best record in the state of Illinois during that span.
•    Illinois State is 8-7 all-time in the MVC Tournament as the third seed. Additionally, the Redbirds are 6-2 against the No.6 seed.

SCOUTING THE SYCAMORES

Indiana State comes into Arch Madness having won its last two games, 58-53 at home against Evansville, and 66-64 at Bradley.

In the win over the Braves, Jordan Barnes scored 13 points off of the bench, while Tyreke Key scored 11, and Brenton Scott and Qiydar Davis each scored 10. Brandon Murphy pulled down a team-best 10 rebounds, as Scott and Barnes each dished out four assists.

For the season the team is led by Second Team All-MVC guard Jordan Barnes and Third Team All-MVC guard Brenton Scott. Barnes averages 17.2 points per game and has made 112 three-point field goals on the season. Scott pours in 14.9 points per game, while leading the team with 171 rebounds.

Davis also averages in double-figures at 10.5 points per game, with Tyreke Key just off of the pace at 8.4 rebounds per game. The Sycamores have four players averaging at least four rebounds per game, while Barnes has dished out a team-best 109 assists. Scott, who is second on the team with 72 assists, also leads the team with 51 steals. Davis is just behind in steals with 46, as Emondre Rickman's 26 blocked shots is the high-mark on the squad.