Gregg Alexander scored a game-high 16 points, including 4-of-7 shooting from three-point range, leading the Illinois State mens basketball team to a 58-55 win in Missouri Valley Conference action Wednesday night at Carver Arena in Peoria.
With the win, Illinois State (8-11, 4-4) notches its first conference road victory of the year and first win at Carver Arena since January 21, 1998, when the Birds held on for a 57-54 victory. Bradley drops to 5-12, 2-6 on the year.
Alexander led all scorers while Shedrick Ford added 14 points for Illinois State. Reggie Hall totaled 15 points on the evening followed by Danny Granger who had 11.
James Gillingham got Bradley on the board first with a layup after grabbing the offensive board on his own jumper to start the game. Leading by two at the 14 minutes mark, Joah Tucker hit a turnaround jumper to boost the lead 11-7 before the Redbirds tied it up off a Ford basket and layup by Andy Strandmark from Ford.
With Illinois State down by three, 22-19, after a three-point shot by Phillip Gilbert at the 5:45 mark, Alexander hit his second three pointer of the half to even up the score.
Bradley answered back when a trey by Gillingham pulled BU up 28-23. But a quick return jumper by Alexander and steal with a fast-break layup by the freshman closed the lead to just two at the half, 28-26.
Shawn Jeppson went long from behind the arc at the 11 minute mark of the second to bring ISU back up to a 37 tie with the Braves. Trying to take the lead two minutes later, Ford got fouled and went to the line. His two consecutive free throws gave ISU the two-point lead with just under eight minutes remaining in the game.
With the score tied at 41 two minutes later, two consecutive threes from Jeppson and Marcello Robinson kept the score even. But Alexander stayed hot behind the line, hitting his fourth three of the night before Vince Greene rolled in for a layup, lifting the Birds by five.
Still ahead by three points with two and half minutes left, Ford hit a crucial jumper on the line as the shot clock sounded to give ISU another five-point cushion. A foul by Ford a minute later put Danny Granger at the line where he hit both attempts and pulled BU to within three.
But Baboucarr Bojang sealed the lead after an easy layup and two free thows, giving Illinois State a seven-point lead, its biggest of the game, en route to the victory.
Robinson hit a three to pull Bradley to within that many with 26 seconds remaining, which proved crucial after Randy Rice missed an ISU free throw. With possession and 16 seconds left, Bradleys Tucker threw up a mercy trey but Andy Strandmark grabbed the rebound as time expired.
Both teams shot 47 percent for the game while Illinois State was 11-13 at the foul line. The Redbirds did not miss a free throw until the last 33 seconds in the game.
The Redbirds return to Missouri Valley Conference action Saturday when Drake comes to Redbird Arena for a 7:05 p.m. tip-off.
