When it needed defense the most, Illinois State's basketball team dug down and went to work Saturday night at the Savvis Center.The Redbirds limited hot-shooting Evansville to just four points over the final 7:04 to earn an 81-77 victory before 8,946 people in the quarterfinals of the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament.
"That was a terrific last five minutes for our team," said ISU coach Tom Richardson. "Finally, our defensive intensity came in. Our defense the last five minutes won the game."
The victory moves ISU's record to 21-7 and into today's 4 p.m. semifinal round game against 18-10 Bradley. The Braves beat Northern Iowa, 59-56.
Craig Snow hit two straight 3-point baskets in a 24-second span to put Evansville ahead, 73-63, with 7:04 remaining.
"I about died when he hit those two 3s," said ISU guard Tarise Bryson. "In the huddle, we said we were going to fight to the end.
"We didn't give up, not one time. I've never seen us fight like that. We were determined to win this game."
The Aces didn't get another field goal attempt until the 3:08 mark. By that time, ISU had clawed back to force a 74-all tie.
Shawn Jeppson was the key component in the rally as he scored seven of his 19 points. Jeppson didn't miss a shot in five attempts in the second half.
Jeppson and Bryson tied for team-high scoring honors with 19 each. Dirk Williams added a career-high 14 and Shedrick Ford had 12.
The Redbirds took their first lead of the game with 2:34 remaining on a Bryson jumper.
ISU got the ball back after an Evansville miss and Rich Beyers, who missed his first five shots of the game, hit a 3-pointer just before the shot clock expired to give ISU a 79-74 lead with 1:30 remaining.
"That was an unbelievable shot," said Richardson. "That 3 was a terrific shot by a senior. He hasn't made that many (5) this year."
Snow broke Evansville's drought with a 3-pointer to push the Aces within 79-77 with 1:04 remaining.
Randy Rice missed the front end of a one-and-bonus with 44 seconds left. Snow attempted a 3-pointer with 10 seconds left and Ford grabbed the rebound.
He was fouled with 7.9 ticks left and made both free throws to seal the triumph.
"Our guys just hung in there and made the plays," added Richardson. "It's not often you win a game when the opposing team shoots 58 percent."
Evansville, which made 15 of its first 19 shots in the second half, shot 67 percent in the second half.
ISU made 57 percent of its shots in the second half to finish at 48 percent. The Redbirds were 13 of 17 from the free throw line, while Evansville was 2 of 3.Snow led the Aces with 23 points while Kyle Runyan added 19 and Chuck Hedde 16. The loss ended Evansville's season at 14-16.
Normal native and University High School graduate Jeremy Stanton had a career-high 15 assists and five rebounds. Stanton's assist total was the fourth highest in tournament history.
"The last seven minutes we had trouble defending them," said Evansville coach Jim Crews. "We kept giving them basket after basket."
ISU's freshman duo of Williams and Cedric Knight combined to make 9 of 9 shots from the field.
Williams was 6 for 6 to tie a single-game tournament record.
He scored 10 of his points in the first half, including two 3-pointers. He had made one basket from 3-point territory in five attempts before Saturday night.
"The coaches have been telling me to shot (the 3)," said Williams. "It's a good shot for me, but I just really haven't had confidence in it.
"Today, I just felt like shooting it and I made them. I probably shoot them more."
The Redbirds had a season-low six turnovers while Evansville committed 15.The Purple Aces gained a 39-34 halftime lead on Runyan's 3-point basket at the buzzer.
The Purple Aces came out firing from the outside in the first eight minutes.
They made 8 of their first 11 shots, including 4 of 6 from 3-point range, to build a 20-9 advantage by the 12:20 mark.
Williams kept the Redbirds in the game as he came off the bench to match his career-high of 10 points during a four-minute stretch.
ISU had a 19-8 run and forged a 28-all deadlock at 7:47 mark on a pair of Bryson free throws.
Evansville's Adam Seitz and Runyan sandwiched 3-point baskets around a Bryson field goal for a 34-30 lead at the 6:17 mark.
Ford's basket off an assist from Williams and a Knight layup tied the score at 34.
ISU had four chances to take the lead, but missed three shots and had one blocked.
Stanton broke the deadlock with a driving layup with 1:40 remaining. Then, Runyan hit his 3-pointer to close the half, with ISU failing to score in the final 4:08.
ISU, which started the game making 5 of its first 16 shots, finished the half with a 41 percent mark. Bryson had nine points, five rebounds and four assists.
"It's just survive and advance now," said Richardson. "Thankfully, the guys came back and we won.
"But that's not the first time we won a game like this, so it didn't totally surprise me."
And what about Bradley, Coach?
"It's the best of three with one game left," said Richardson. "We held court at our place and they won at their place.
"I think it's neat when you can play your rival in the conference tournament."
Today's meeting will be the first between the teams in the tournament since 1988 when Bradley beat ISU, 83-59, in the championship game at Peoria.
