Jan. 7, 2008
NORMAL, Ill. -
After tallying back-to-back league wins last week to improve to 3-0 in Missouri Valley Conference play for the first time since the 1997-98 season, Illinois State's men's basketball team (11-3, 3-0 MVC) garnered one vote in the updated Associated Press Top-25 poll, released Monday afternoon.
Illinois State has won six-consecutive games, outscoring its foes by 10.3 points during the streak. The stretch includes four-straight road wins, including victories at Creighton (Dec. 29) and Wichita State (Jan. 1). The Redbirds defeated unanimous preseason MVC favorite Southern Illinois, 56-47, Saturday night on Doug Collins Court at Redbird Arena.
The Redbirds lead the Valley in three-point field goal percentage (.376), three-point field goal percentage defense (.283), blocked shots (4.21 bpg), assists (16.57 apg) and assist/turnover ratio (1.20).
The Redbirds will host Valley foe Northern Iowa Tuesday in the second game of a four-game home stand. ISU is a perfect 7-0 at home this season. A win over the Panthers would give the Redbirds their first seven-game winning streak since the 2000-01 campaign.
