Jan. 15, 2007
Final Stats
NORMAL, Ill. -
Junior Levi Dyer set a career high with 23 points and senior Greg Dilligard tallied 13 points and became the school's all-time leading shot blocker, but a late Illinois State men's basketball team rally wasn't enough as Missouri State held on to down the Redbirds 75-66, Monday at Redbird Arena.
The loss dropped the Redbirds' record to .500 overall at 9-9 (1-6 MVC) for the first time since November 25. The Bears would finish the game off hitting six free throws to improve their record to 14-4 (5-2 MVC).
After trailing throughout the second half, Illinois State cut the lead to 65-63 with 1:41 left in the game after back-to-back baskets by Dilligard, but the Bears answered with a Nathan Bilyeu jumper from the left side and a lay up by Deven Mitchell off a Dom Johnson turnover to build their lead back up 69-64.
Illinois State stayed close all night despite only having two players in double digits, thanks to forcing 17 turnovers that led to 23 points. However, while the `Birds held the Bears to only 38 shots, MSU took full advantage of those shots nailing 66 percent from the floor, including 8-of-12 from distance.
Missouri State had four players in double figures, led by senior Blake Ahearn with 17 points.
The first half began with the Redbirds jumping out to an early 7-2 lead at the 16:50 mark after a three-point shot from Richardson and a pair of baskets inside by Dyer and Dilligard. The lead was short lived as Missouri State proceeded to go on an 8-0 run over the next 3:08 minutes, capped off by a three pointer by the Bears' Tyler Chaney to take the lead 10-7.
The two teams would swap baskets before Missouri State went on a 15-3 run that put some distance between themselves and Illinois State giving MSU the 25-15 advantage with 4:41 left in the half. The Bears' run was keyed by three-point buckets from Ahearn, Dale Lamberth and Spencer Laurie.
Illinois State would end the half on a 14-7 run of it's own to cut the lead the Bears' lead at intermission to 32-29. The Redbird run was fueled by Osiris Eldridge and Dyer, who contributed five and four points, respectively
The second half began with ISU scoring the first point on a free throw at the 19:35 mark by Dilligard to cut the lead to 32-30. Two minutes later Dilligard became the Redbirds' all-time leading shot blocker with 144 career blocks, when he swatted MSU's Kyle Rausch at the 17:21 mark.
The Redbirds would get no closer to the Bears, who built their lead as large as nine, until Johnson hit a three-point basket that brought the crowd to its feet bringing ISU within one point at 54-53 with 7:21 left in the game.
Missouri State would stabilize their lead immediately with Ahearn hitting a shot from beyond the arc that started a 7-0 run that built the Bears' lead back up to 61-53 with 6:06 remaining.
The Redbird basketball team will return to Redbird Arena for game two of its three-game homestand on Thursday when it faces Wichita State. Tip-off between the `Birds and the Shockers is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.
