Illinois State (17-5, 9-4) tries to move back within one-half game of the Missouri Valley Conference lead Thursday night when it hosts Southern Illinois (13-11, 7-6) at Redbird Arena. Tip off is 7:05 p.m.
Creighton leads the Valley by one full game over both Illinois State and Indiana State. The Sycamores are at Drake Thursday.
Two teams coming off overtime road victories, Monday, collide in Normal when Illinois State and Southern Illinois meet. The Redbirds needed two extra periods to vanquish Evansville, 94-87, while the Salukis needed just one to down Drake, 89-84.
ISU, one of the most improved teams in the nation, is gunning for a sweep of SIU. The Birds won at Carbondale, 88-74, on Jan. 14. This is the first of three remaining home games for Illinois State, which will later play host to Drake and Wichita State. The Redbirds have road games left at Bradley and Northern Iowa.
