Nov. 9, 2005
Final Stats
NORMAL, Ill. -
Final Stats
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Senior Neil Plank tallied 15 points and nine rebounds as Illinois State defeated Augustana [S.D.] 60-49 in an exhibition game Wednesday night at Redbird Arena. Sophomore point guard Khalif Ford also chipped in 11 points and four rebounds as the only other Redbird scoring in double digits.
The Redbirds started the first half on a 12-6 scoring run on six baskets by six different players. Ford hit a jumper with 7:22 left to put the `Birds up 18-9 and Michael Vandello's jumper with 45 seconds left gave the Redbirds their largest lead of the half at 11 points at 26-15. The half was capped off when Ronnie Carlwell's screen set up a buzzer-beating shot by Eric Vianney put to the Redbirds ahead 28-17 at the intermission. The `Birds held the Vikings shooting percentage to 14.8 percent from the floor while the `Birds shot 42.9 percent from the field.
The second half began with the Redbirds and Vikings trading baskets until the `Birds went on a 10-0 scoring run paced by five points from Plank. The `Birds led by as many as 19 points, but the Vikings went on a 24-8 run with nine points from Marques Blank to cut the lead to three points at 52-49 with 2: 46 remaining. The Redbirds regained control with an 8-0 scoring run, all on free throws, to put the Vikings away. The Vikings were led by Blank's 14 points and 6 rebounds on 8-for-10 shooting from the charity stripe.
The `Birds begin the 2005-2006 regular season on Nov. 19 when they host Indianapolis at Redbird Arena for a 2:05 p.m. start.
