Sophomore Marcus Arnold tossed in a game-high 15 points to lead Illinois State in scoring, but it was a 17-8 second half run by Indiana State that proved to be the difference as the Sycamores walked away with a 56-49 Missouri Valley Conference win Saturday at the Hulman Center.
With the loss, the Redbirds dropped their fifth straight and their record fell to 4-8 overall and 0-4 in the league. Indiana State improved to 6-6 and 2-2, respectively.
With 16:13 left in the game, the Redbirds took their third lead of the game and their first since the 10:01 mark of the first half, when Chris Burras hit a jump shot to put the Birds up 29-28.
On the ensuing possession, Indiana States Eric Gray sank a jumper to reclaim the lead, but at the 15:22 mark, Burras was fouled and sank both free throws to give Illinois State the 30-29 edge.
That turned out to be the final Redbird lead as the Sycamores rallied off eight straight points, including three-pointers by Tyson Schnitker and Russell Trudeau. The Sycamore 8-0 run fed the eventual 17-8 run that amassed over nine minutes off the clock and gave Indiana State a 45-38 lead.
Trey Guidry closed the lead to 3-points with a trey of his own at the 4:30 mark, but that was as close as the Birds would get.
Arnold added six boards to go along with his 15 points, while Burras, the only other Redbird in double figures, added 10 off the bench, on 6-for-8 shooting from the foul line. Gregg Alexander and Guidry each chipped in nine points.
David Moss led the Sycamores with 14 points and Amani Daanish tossed in 11.
Illinois State returns to action and to the road on Wednesday, when it travels to Des Moines, Iowa to face Drake.
