Jan. 12, 2011
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Play-by-Play Highlights
NORMAL, Ill. -
A last-second three-point attempt from Illinois State guard Anthony Cousin came up short, as the Redbirds (8-9, 0-6 MVC) dropped a close one to UNI (12-6, 3-3 MVC) by a score of 46-44 Wednesday night on Doug Collins Court at Redbird Arena.
Blake Mishler had a solid game and led the Redbirds with 10 points and five rebounds, while Jon Ekey added nine points and a season-high five rebounds for the Redbirds. The loss was the sixth in a row against the Panthers and the sixth in a row overall for the Redbirds, who have lost the last two games by a combined six points to their Valley opponents.
UNI jumped out to an early 4-2 lead thanks to a pair of baskets from Kwadzo Ahelegbe, but ISU answered with seven-straight points to take a 9-4 advantage by the second official's timeout of the first half. Ekey started the run with a three-pointer from the corner and Mishler tossed in four-straight points on a pair of free throws and a jumper in the lane to cap off the run.
The Redbirds held the Panthers scoreless for four and a half minutes, before they went on a 17-2 run over the next 4:27 to take an 21-11 lead after a three-pointer by Johnny Moran. Mishler slowed down the Panthers with a jumper and answered another basket by Moran with a layup in the paint by Mishler to cut the UNI lead to 23-15 with 4:42 left in the first half.
Back-to-back three-pointers from Ekey and Anthony Cousin on consecutive possessions quickly cut the Panthers' lead to just two points at 23-21 with 1:21 left, forcing UNI head coach Ben Jacobson to call a timeout. Both teams had good looks over the final minute-plus, but the shots didn't fall and the score remained 23-21 in favor of UNI at halftime.
UNI was the first to score out of the break after a layup by Koch, but the lead would be short-lived as ISU answered with a 15-5 run over the next six and a half minutes to take a 36-30. Back-to-back three-pointers from Ekey and John Wilkins ignited the run and Wilkins added five more points after a jumper by Jackie Carmichael to extend the lead for the Redbirds. Austin Hill capped off the run with a layup before the Panthers scored their first field goal in over six minutes to cut the ISU lead to 38-34 with 9:03 left in the game.
ISU later extended the lead to 42-37 with 6:09 left in the game on a jumper by Hill, but a jumper by UNI's Anthony James and a three-pointer from Koch knotted the score at 42-42 with 4:35 left on the clock. The Panthers would then take the lead a minute later on a jumper by James, before Carmichael answered with a jumper of his own to tie the game for the second time at 44-44.
James continued his late charge with a layup with 2:30 left on the clock to give UNI a 46-44 lead. Both teams had strong looks at the hoop over the next two minutes but neither scored and ISU got the ball back with 30 seconds left after a steal by Ekey. After a timeout, a jumper by Hill fell short with 14 seconds and James was fouled on the rebound to send him to the line. James then missed the front end of the one-and-one and UNI's Lucas O'Rear fouled Alex Rubin to give the Redbirds the ball back and one last shot for the win.
After another timeout by the Redbirds, a designed play for Cousin gave him an open look from the top of the key but his three-point attempt bounced off the rim and the Panthers came away with the 46-44 win. The Redbirds return to action Saturday, Jan. 15, when they continue their homestand against Evansville. The game will be televised live on Fox Sports Midwest and Comcast SportsNet Chicago Plus as part of the Missouri Valley Conference television package, with tipoff set for 6:05 p.m. on Doug Collins Court at Redbird Arena.
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