The Illinois State mens basketball team rang in the new year with a hard fought overtime loss to No. 19 Illinois, 80-73. ISU falls to 4-6 on the season and Illinois runs its record to 9-2.
Redbird Marcus Arnold led all scorers with career-tying 23 points. In his first action since suffering a broken jaw nearly a month ago, Deron Williams ignited the Illini with 20 points off the bench.
Illinois State scored and led for the majority of the game. Both teams turned the ball over on their first trips down the floor until Illinois States Greg Alexander (14 points) buried a three pointer at 18:58. Illinois Dee Brown (16 points) answered with a three of his own on the next trip down the floor. Alexander buried another three on the ensuing trip to put the Birds up 6-3 early.
The Redbirds just built on their lead from there going on a 9-0 run that lasted about three and a half minutes led by Marcus Arnold and Gregg Dilligard (four points).
Illinois fought back with a run of its own, trimming the ISU lead to four on a Roger Powell dunk and a Luther Head ( 15 points) three pointer. A Deron Williams drive and bucket gave Illinois its first lead of the game at 26-25 with 4:31 left in the first half.
Najeeb Echols free throw with 1:39 left in the first half brought the score to 32-32, a score that stood at halftime.
The second half started out much like the first with consecutive three pointers. Only this time Head hit the first one and Illinois States Alexander answered.
The momentum once again swung in Illinois States favor as they jumped out to 49-39 lead with 12:29 to go. The run was sparked by a three-point play by Alexander and a Trey Guidry (16 points) three pointer. A layup by Chris Burras capped off a 10-0 run by the Birds.
The Illini made their push around the 7:15 mark led by Williams. He scored 12 points in a matter of five minutes to cut ISUs lead to 67-64 with 1:53 to go. Then Head scored with 1:10 left, cutting it to 66-67. A Brown steal was followed by a charge by Williams with 36 seconds left giving the ball back to Illinois State.
Senior Vince Greene (10 assists) was fouled twice by to put ISU in the bonus. Greene made the first free throw but missed the second. The Illini worked the ball around to Williams, who missed a three but got the rebound and dished to Smith, who was fouled with 18.1 left on the clock.
Smith hit the ensuing free throws, tying the game at 68-68. ISU went to Marcus Arnold who had been money all day but his jumper bounced off the rim and went off an Illinois State player giving the ball to the Illini with 4. 7 seconds to go. Browns three at the buzzer clanked off the rim sending the game to overtime.
Illinois dominated the overtime period with seven free throws and a couple buckets. ISUs only point in the extra period came on a put back by Arnold and a three pointer by Guidry. Illinois closed out the game with free throws, finishing the game with its largest lead of the day.
Illinois States next game is a January 7 match-up with Creighton at Redbird Arena at 7:05 p.m.
