Dec. 20, 2010
Final Stats 
| Season Stats
Post-Game Interview
Play-by-Play Highlights
WILMINGTON, N.C. - Illinois State freshman Jon Ekey fired in a career-best 22 points and senior Alex Rubin sank a critical three-point field goal in the extra period to give the Redbirds a 62-60 win over UNC Wilmington at Trasker Coliseum Monday night.
ISU (8-3) missed its first three free throw attempts to open overtime, but three-point field goals by John Wilkins and Rubin, followed with a fast break dunk by Jackie Carmichael provided the ISU offense. Rubin added a free throw with 6.4 seconds remaining to seal the win.
Chad Tomko scored 10-straight points for the Seahawks and gave UNCW (5-5) its first lead of the game, 37-36, at the 8:42 mark. Wilkins sank a three-pointer from the left corner with 7:39 left to tie the game, 39-39. The two teams battled over the next seven minutes and the game was still tied, 52-52, with 37.7 seconds left in the contest.
The Redbirds used a combination of hot shooting and stellar defense to storm out to an 8-0 lead, behind four points apiece from Ekey and Carmichael. The Seahawks closed the gap to four points five times, but ISU took a 25-15 advantage with 3:48 left in the opening frame. UNCW scored the last four points of the first half and the Redbirds led, 25-19, at the intermission. Ekey tallied 11 first-half points, besting his previous career-high of seven points.
In addition to Ekey's 22 points, Wilkins added 13 and Carmichael finished with 11. Tomko led the way for the Seahawks with a game-high 23 points.
Illinois State will be back in action Wednesday, Dec. 29 on Doug Collins Court at Redbird Arena, when the Redbirds open Missouri Valley Conference play against Creighton. The game has been dubbed "Rock the Arena" and $5 upper bowl tickets are still available.
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