Illinois State concludes its exhibition slate when it hosts Lewis, Wednesday. Lewis is a Division II school located in Romeoville, Ill. The visiting Flyers have two players who played their prep basketball across the street from Redbird Arena at Normal Community High School. Jonah Batambuze and Ikechi Nnakwe both wore the orange and black of the Ironmen. Both began their college careers at Division I schools (Batambuze at Northwestern and Nnakwe at Central Florida) before transferring to Lewis.
ISU head coach Tom Richardson said his line-up could come from these six players, but his final decision will not come until later ...
F 23 Traves Wilson 6-3 215 So.-TR Moline, Ill.
F 32 Jason Hammock 6-6 205 Fr.-HS The Colony, Tex.
F 33 Shedrick Ford 6-5 220 Jr.-TR Macon, Ga.
C 4 Dirk Williams 6-8 210 Fr.-HS Pekin, Ill.
G 12 Tarise Bryson 6-1 175 Sr.-2L Decatur, Ill.
G 3 Ishmael Joyce 6-2 175 So.-1L Memphis, Tenn.
Lewis was 19-8 last season, but will have to replace its top three scorers for the 2000-01 campaign. There are eight new players on this Flyer team. The Flyers' roster includes four players that are 6-7 or taller. The biggest is 6-9 Mike Batalo, a sophomore from Belgrade, Yugoslavia. Another five Flyers are 6-5.
Illinois State won its initial exhibition tilt on Nov. 9 when the Redbirds clipped the California All-Stars, 88-87. Tarise Bryson hit the game winner with 12 seconds remaining.
Bryson was one of three players who scored 12 points in the game. Ishmael Joyce and Shawn Jeppson also dropped in a dozen, while Traves Wilson added 10. Bryson, who is still battling a sore finger, the result of a deep cut, was an uncharacteristic 0-of-8 on 3-point attempts. ISU Head Coach Tom Richardson used 12 players in each half.
