Jan. 11, 2006
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. - Missouri State used 56.5 percent shooting in the second half to overcome a balanced Illinois State scoring attack and registered a 70-54 Missouri Valley Conference victory Wednesday night at the Hammons Student Center.
With the loss, ISU falls to 6-8 on the year and 1-5 in league play, while the Bears improve to 11-3 and 4-2.
ISU's Neil Plank and MSU's Blake Ahearn opened up the game by trading three-point baskets on each of the teams' initial possession. The three-pointer proved to be the Redbirds' weapon of choice in the first half, as ISU finished with nine made field goals, including six from beyond the arc. The 'Birds took a 20-16 advantage at the 10:14 mark, after back-to-back treys by Roberto Fortes, but a scoring drought over the final five minutes of the half resulted in a 30-26 MSU lead at the intermission.
The Redbirds opened up the second half with a 7-2 run and took a 33-32 lead at the 18:24 mark, but MSU responded with a 17-6 run and took a 49-39 lead with 7:29 left in the game. ISU closed to within seven points at 56-49 on a three-pointer by Brandon Holtz, but on the ensuing possession Greg Dilligard picked up his fifth foul and head coach Porter Moser was slapped with a technical foul. Ahearn converted the pair of free throws and the Bears held on for the 16-point win.
Illinois State didn't have a player in double figures, but Plank and Michael Vandello led the way with nine points apiece. Holtz came off the bench to score eight, while Nedu Onyeuku tossed in seven. Ahearn led the Bears with 20 points and Tyler Chaney ended with 16, while Nathan Bilyeu finished with 12 and Sky Fraizer scored 11.
The Redbirds play again on Saturday when they host Northern Iowa at 4:05 p.m.
