Jan. 21, 2007
Box Score
NORMAL, Ill. -
Junior Levi Dyer tallied 20-plus points for the third consecutive game, scoring a career-high 27 points on 10-for-14 shooting, including a career-high 5-for-7 from three point land, as the Illinois State men's basketball team defeated Drake 80-65 in a Missouri Valley Conference game Sunday afternoon at Redbird Arena. The Redbirds also scored 80-plus points for the second consecutive game, a feat the team has not achieved since November of 2004.
The Redbirds (11-9, 3-6 MVC) had three players reach double figures in points, as junior Boo Richardson and junior Anthony Slack joined Dyer in double figures with 16 and 14 points scored, respectively.
Drake (11-9, 2-7 MVC) was led by Ajay Calvin, who scored 15 points on 7-for-12 shooting. Jonathan Cox chipped in with 14 points.
The Redbirds were able to pull out of the gates to an early 14-4 lead in the first half after Dyer hit his first four shots, all but one from beyond the arc, with the last three pointer causing Drake to call an early timeout with 16:22 remaining. Drake cut the lead to 20-18 with 9:26 courtesy of a 12-2 run, as Calvin led the Bulldogs with nine points. However, the `Birds were able to regain a 10 point lead after Richardson drove and converted a reverse layup, capping off a 9-2 run to close out the half with the Redbirds in front, 34-24.
Drake started the second half on an 8-2 run, closing the gap to 36-32 at the 17:37 mark on a three pointer from Cox, forcing Illinois State to call its second timeout. After Dyer hit another three from the left corner to put the Redbirds up 55-47 with 8:03 remaining, the Redbirds went on a 9-3 run to give ISU a 64-55 advantage, capped with a layup from Slack with 3:39 left in the period. The `Birds never looked back, closing out the game with an 8-3 run to secure the 80-65 victory.
The Redbirds will travel to face in-state rival Bradley on Wednesday, January 24. Tip-off is slated for 7:35 p.m. at Carver Arena in Peoria, Ill.
