Baboucarr Bojang scored a season-high 21 points and added five rebounds but it was not enough for the Illinois State mens basketball team to win its third game in a row as Wichita State handed the Birds their sixteenth loss of the year, an 85-71 decision in Wichita, Kan., Tuesday night.
Illinois State is now 3-16, 2-9 in the Valley while the Shockers improve to 12-7, 7-3 in conference play.
The Shockers shot 60.9 percent from the field for the game while Illinois State shot 41 percent for the game.
Led by Bojang, the Birds also got an offensive contribution from Gregg Alexander who had 12 points and Vince Green, who had 12 also. Wichita State was led by Randy Burns who had 19 points, seven rebounds and six assists with no turnovers. Jamar Howard added 16 points, six rebounds and six assists.
The Redbirds were strong in the first half off of hot shooting from Bojang and led 28-23 with 7:10 to play before the break. But Wichita State went on a 22-5 run to end the first half, taking a 45-33 lead into halftime. A 17-11 rebounding edge by the Shockers was the difference in the half as both teams were hitting the mark offensively.
The Redbirds never regained the lead in the second half but pulled to within eight with 17 minutes to play. The Shockers advantage continued to grow, however, to as many as 12 with 7:51 to play. A quick bucket by Casey Reid got ISU back to within 10 but Illinois State trailed for the final minutes.
At the 3:10 mark, the Birds were down 82-67 before Howard hit a three-point shot for Wichita States final bucket of the game. Ken Hill scored Illinois States last points with :48 seconds left, 85-71.
ISU returns to action on Saturday, Feb. 8, against the Sycamores of Indiana State. It is a 2:05 p.m. tipoff at Redbird Arena.
