Jan. 6, 2007
Box Score
NORMAL, Ill. -
The Illinois State men's basketball team came into Saturday night's game against Indiana State looking for its first win in Missouri Valley Conference play. However, the Redbirds could only connect on 32.7 percent of their shots and fell to the Sycamores, 54-50, in front of 4,543 fans at Redbird Arena.
The loss dropped the Redbirds to 8-7 on the season and 0-4 in league play, while Indiana State improved to 10-4 overall and 3-1 in the Valley.
Both teams struggled from the field in the first half, with Illinois State shooting just 25 percent from the floor and Indiana State shooting 25.9 percent. The Sycamores held a 5-0 lead until Anthony Slack connected on two free throws with 14:16 left in the half to cut the lead to 5-2. After a three-pointer from Levi Dyer tied the score at 7-7, Greg Dilligard's free throw gave ISU its first lead of the game at 8-7 with 11:25 left in the first half.
From there the teams traded baskets for the rest of the half and the lead changed hands seven times before Indiana State went on an 8-2 run to finish the half and take a 25-20 lead into the locker room at halftime. The 20 points scored by the Redbirds tied a season-low at halftime and the 25 points by the Sycamores were also a season-low for a Redbird opponent.
The Sycamores kept their lead until the 12:10 mark in the second half when Dom Johnson's three-pointer put the `Birds up 31-30, capping off a 7-0 Illinois State run. Seven lead changes then followed, with Indiana State eventually pulling out to a four-point lead at 44-40. However, Johnson would score five unanswered points to put the Redbirds up 45-44 with just under five minutes to play in the game.
With the score tied at 49-49, a Matt Arnold jumper gave the Sycamores a 51-49 lead with 1:38 left and Indiana State would never relinquish the advantage. Jay Tunnel led the way for the Sycamores with a game-high 13 points while Arnold added nine points and eight rebounds in the win. Dyer and Johnson were both in double figures for the Redbirds, scoring 11 and 10 points, respectively.
Illinois State returns to the hardwood on Tuesday when the Redbirds host Northern Iowa at Redbird Arena. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.
