Shawn Jeppson collected a game high 20 points and Shedrick Ford added 17 points and eight rebounds as Illinois State upended Northern Iowa, 71-66, Saturday night in Cedar Falls, Iowa.
Jeppson led the Birds through the first half, tallying 12 points as the Birds headed into halftime down 37-34.
Clutch free throw shooting in the final 4:07 along with 15 second half points from Ford sealed the game for the Redbirds. Illinois State shot a blistering 12 of 13 from the charity stripe in the final four minutes, 7-of-8 from Ford, and 22-of-26 for the game.
Plagued by early foul trouble in the second half, the Redbirds managed to hold Northern Iowa to 10 of 34 shooting from the field (29 percent) after halftime. Illinois State hit on 22-of-47 shots (47 percent) for the game.
Northern Iowa had four players in double figures, led by Erik Smith and Aaron Middendorf with 15 each. Robbie Sieverding and Matt Bennett added 12 points apiece.
With the win, the Birds improve their overall mark to 15-13 overall and 11-6 in Missouri Valley Conference play. The Panthers drop to 13-13 and 8-9 in league play.
The Birds return to action Monday at 6:05 p.m. facing Evansville on Senior Night.
