Senior Shawn Jeppson scored 16 of his team-high 22 points in the second half as the Illinois State Redbirds defeat the Purple Aces of Evansville in overtime, 82-73, on Senior Night at Redbird Arena. The win gives Illinois State the No. 3 seed in the Missouri Valley Conference Mens Basketball Tournament, which begins Friday, March 1.
The Redbirds, 16-13 overall, 12-6 in the conference, outscored the Aces, 16-7, in the extra period shooting 83 percent (5-for-6) from the field. Besides Jeppson, three other Birds reached double figures in scoring. Senior Shedrick Ford and junior Baboucarr Bojang each scored 15 points, while freshman Gregg Alexander chipped in 11. Bojang also paced Illinois State on the boards with a game-high 11 rebounds, collecting his ninth double-double of the season.
Evansville, 7-20 overall, 4-14 in the Valley, shot only 33 percent in overtime after shooting 52 percent (28-for-54) from the field in regulation. Senior Tobias Brinkley led the Aces with 23 points and nine rebounds, while junior Ian Hanavan turned in 22 points and eight rebounds. Both Brinkley (11-for-18) and Hanavan (9-for-18) shot over 50 percent from the field in the game.
With the Aces up 39-37 at the half, Illinois State tied it up on their first possession of the second half off a short jumper by Bojang from the free throw line. Evansville could only muster two field goals in the first seven minutes of the second half and the Birds were able to jump to an eight point lead, 53-45.
However, hot shooting by Brinkley and junior Larry Ferguson down the stretch brought the Aces back and Hanavans free throw with 1:28 remaining in regulation proved to be enough to send the game to overtime at 66-66.
Illinois State will face the No. 6 seed in the Valley at 8:30 p.m. on Saturday, March 2, at the Savvis Center in St. Louis, Mo.
