Feb. 22, 2006
Box Score
Normal, Ill. -
Roberto Fortes had 14 points and Greg Dilligard added 11 points and nine rebounds for Illinois State, but it wasn't enough to match Missouri State's balance in a 72-61 Bears win in a Missouri Valley Conference game Wednesday at Redbird Arena.
The Redbirds, 9-17, 4-13 in the Valley, have dropped seven of their last eight. It was the final home game for Redbird seniors Dana Ford, Nedu Onyeuku, Neil Plank and Travis Wallace.
The Bears had four players in double-figures scoring, led by Blake Ahearn's 18. Missouri State, 19-7, 11-6 in the Valley, has won seven of its last eight games, but won for just the fourth time in 15 appearances in Redbird Arena. MSU shot 50 percent from the field and 53 percent (7 of 12) from three point range. Illinois State made eight of 27 threes, but shot just 41 percent from the field and had 18 turnovers to 12 for the Bears.
The Redbirds extended their streak to 198 straight games with a three-point field goal when Levi Dyer pumped one in from the left wing with 17:31 left in the first half, giving the `Birds a 5-3 lead. But Missouri State responded with a 12-2 run, featuring two three-pointers by Dale Lamberth which gave the Bears a 15-7 edge at the 13:58 mark.
The Bears kept knocking down shots and forcing Redbird turnovers, while building a 32-19 lead. With buckets by Khalif Ford and Dilligard, plus three-pointers by Mike Vandello and Dyer, the `Birds battled back within 37-29 at intermission. MSU shot 55 percent from the field and made five of seven threes (three of those by Blake Ahearn) in the first half, while ISU made just 11 of 27 and had 10 turnovers.
Illinois State kept up its momentum into the second half. Dilligard hit a free throw. Plank tapped the rebound back from the next free throw and, two passes later, he buried a three-pointer from the left wing. Plank's steal and layup on the next possession brought the Redbirds to within 37-35 with 17:49 left in the game.
But the Bears went on an 11-2 sprint to take a 48-37 lead with 13:43 left. The `Birds made one last rush. With Missouri State leading 52-40, Fortes, the reigning Missouri Valley Conference Newcomer of the Week, hit a pair of three pointers sandwiched around two Dilligard free throws during an 8-2 Redbird run to slice the MSU advantage to 54-48 with 7:48 left. But the Bears held on and pulled away to win by 11.
The Redbirds play their regular-season Valley finale at 5:07 p.m. Saturday at conference leader Wichita State.
