Dec. 4, 2010
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NORMAL, Ill. -
After trailing most of the game, Illinois State (7-2) defeated Montana State (5-4), 62-56, Saturday night on Doug Collins Court at Redbird Arena. The Redbirds were led by John Wilkins and Anthony Cousin, who each set new career-highs in total points.
Wilkins was 4-of-7 from the floor and added five free throws to lead all scorers with 16 points, which set a new career-high. Cousin and Austin Hill each boasted double-digit scoring efforts for ISU. Cousin ended the game with a career-high 13 points, while Hill tallied 15 points. Danny Piepoli led the Bobcats with 10 points. Tony Lewis led all rebounders with eight boards.
After nearly three minutes of scoreless basketball to start the game, Montana State got on the board first when Rod Singleton laid the ball in the basket. Singleton was fouled on the play and successfully completed the traditional three-point play to give the Bobcats a 3-0 lead with 17:12 left in the first half. Jackie Carmichael was fouled and went to the line for one shot, which he completed to give ISU its first point of the game, 3-1. The Redbirds headed into the first media timeout, shooting 0-for-8 with 14:39 left in the first half.
Jon Ekey made a jumper to cut the Bobcats' lead to one with 11:25 remaining in the first half, but Montana State continued to lengthen the gap as they built their largest lead of the half by eight with 6:02 remaining before the break. ISU fought back and again shortened MSU's lead by one, 28-27, thanks to Wilkins, who made four-straight buckets. In the first half, Wilkins set a new career-high in points with nine and tied a career-high in three- point field goals with three.
ISU got their first lead of the game at the 1:06 mark in the first half, when Hill sank a jumper to give ISU a one-point lead, 29-28. With one second left before halftime, Montana State's Casey Trujeque hit a three from the corner to give MSU a three-point advantage heading into the locker room at the intermission, 32-29.
After the break, ISU attempted just four shots compared to MSU's eight shot attempts by the 14:41 mark. After the Bobcats built an eight-point lead with 13:42 remaining in the game, the Redbirds shrunk Montana State's lead to just two points, 44-42, after Trey Blue made a jumper with 9:22 left on the clock.
With 4:35 left in the game, Hill made a layup to give ISU its second lead of the game, 48-46. Illinois State went on an 11-2 run over three minutes to secure the victory, 59-48, as Montana State was 9-of-32 from the field in the second half. The Bobcats cut ISU's lead, 62-56, after Danny Piepoli made three-straight free throws. The effort wasn't enough, as time expired in the game.
The Redbirds will return to the court Wednesday, Dec. 8, when they host Ohio for a 7:05 p.m. game.
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