Seniors Shawn Jeppson and Randy Rice each set new career highs as Illinois State defeated Wichita State 81-71 at Redbird Arena. The victory snapped a five-game losing skid for the Birds.
Jeppson made five three-point baskets in the game to break his previous career mark of four and led the Birds in scoring with 27 points to pass his old career high of 22 points at Wichita State on January 29, 2001. Rice scored 16 points in the contest, his previous high was 10 points at Evansville on February 12, 2001. He also set career highs in steals with six (previous high was five in two separate games) and blocked shots with three (his previous high was one in four contests).
Baboucarr Bojang and Gregg Alexander also had strong performances for Illinois State. Bojang scored 15 points and led the team on the boards with seven. Alexander chipped in 13 points, including 3-for-6 shooting from behind the arc.
The Shockers, 7-7 (1-2 MVC) were led by senior Terrell Benton with 16 points. Wichita State had three other players in double figures. Senior Troy Mack led the Shockers in rebounding with nine and also put in 11 points.
In the first half, Wichita State jumped out to a quick 7-0 lead, but the Redbirds answered with a 18-3 run led by seven points from Randy Rice to take the lead 18-10 with just over nine minutes remaining. However, the Birds went 0-11 from the field over the next seven minutes, 47 seconds and allowed the Shockers to take the lead 21-19 at the 2:56 mark. Gregg Alexander hit a big three-point shot with five seconds left to give Illinois State its first halftime lead, 29-26, in five games.
The second half saw the Redbirds pull away, outscoring the Shockers 30-15 through the first 11 minutes behind three three-pointers from Jeppson. The Birds took their largest lead of the game at 59-41 with 8:49 remaining in the game.
The Redbirds, 5-9 (1-2 MVC) head to Des Moines, Iowa, Thursday to play Drake at 7:05 p.m. in Missouri Valley Conference action.
