MURRAY, Ky. – The last time Illinois State played at Murray State, Doug Collins poured in 29 points. ISU men's basketball returns to Murray, Kentucky, for the first time in 43 years to face the Racers Saturday at 3 p.m. CT at the CFSC Center.
Both teams enter the game riding respective winning streaks. The Redbirds (6-3) have won three-straight and four out-of-their-last five. ISU has also won its last two road games. Murray State (7-4) is on a five-game winning streak after going 4-1 at home so far this season.
Picked to win the Ohio Valley Conference, Murray State features OVC Preseason Player of the Year, sophomore guard Cameron Payne, who leads the team with 18.7 points per game. The Redbirds are led by Daishon Knight who is now averaging a team-best 14.2 points per game on 48.4 percent shooting from the field. He netted a game-best 18 points - all in the second half - during ISU's win over OVC opponent UT Martin Wednesday night. ISU's Reggie Lynch ranks No. 8 with 3.2 blocks per game.
Murray State leads the all-time series, 1-0, after beating ISU, 85-74, Dec. 11, 1971.
Due to the Illinois State football team's 1 p.m. CT FCS Seminfinal game at New Hampshire, the beginning of Saturday's basketball game will be heard online only here. Upon conclusion of the football broadcast, WJBC 1230-AM, 93.7-FM will air the remainder of the basketball game.
THE SERIES:
Saturday's game marks the second meeting between Illinois State and Murray State, with the Racers holding a 1-0 advantage by winning the only meeting, 85-74, on Dec. 11, 1971, in Murray, Kentucky. Illinois State's Doug Collins scored 29 points in the game, but it was not enough for the Redbirds.
WHAT'S AT STAKE?:
Winners of a season-best three-straight games, Illinois State is aiming to establish its longest winning streak since earning four-straight victories last season from Nov. 19 until Dec. 7. The Redbirds have won two-straight road games, and the Redbirds are striving to win three-straight on the road for the first time since earning three-consecutive road victories during the 2008-09 campaign, from Feb. 4 until Feb. 15. ISU is also aiming to extend its 32-game winning streak versus the Ohio Valley Conference. Head coach Dan Muller is 4-0 versus the OVC.
ILLINOIS STATE AT A GLANCE:
Improved to 6-3 overall with a win over Ohio Valley Conference foe UT Martin (Dec. 17) ... winners of three-straight games, and four out of the last five ... three players have recorded double-doubles this season ... the Redbirds have not been outrebounded yet ... earned two Missouri Valley Conference Newcomer of the Week accolades this season ... finished as the runner-up at the U.S. Virgin Islands Paradise Jam (Nov. 21-24) ... selected to finish fifth in the MVC this year.
MURRAY STATE AT A GLANCE:
Winners of five-straight, including a victory at Missouri Valley Conference foe Evansville (Dec. 13) ... improved to 7-3 with a victory over Alcorn State (Dec. 17) ... sophomore guard Cameron Payne was named Ohio Valley Conference Player of the Week for the second time following the Evansville game ... Payne is the OVC Preseason Player of the Year ... Murray State is picked to finish first in the OVC after earning a 23-11 overall record and a 13-3 Ohio Valley Conference mark en route to winning the CollegeInsider.com Tournament (CIT) championship last season ... returning four of five starters.
ISU VS. OVC
Illinois State has won 32-straight games against members of the Ohio Valley Conference, and head coach Dan Muller is 4-0 versus the OVC after earning an 83-57 victory against Austin Peay (Dec. 22, 2012), a 64-58 win over Tennessee State (Jan. 19, 2013), a 77-67 victory versus Morehead State (March 19, 2014) in the first round of the College Basketball Invitational (CBI) and a 64-54 win over UT Martin (Dec. 17). Against current members of the Ohio Valley Conference, the Redbirds own a 99-53 all-time record (.651).
RPI ON THE RISE
According to the Dec. 19 Collegiate Basketball News RPI, Illinois State has a No. 48 RPI, marking ISU's highest RPI since the Redbirds were No. 39 in the third edition of the 2012-13 RPI report (Dec. 24, 2012). The Redbirds went on to earn No. 58 and No. 95 RPIs on successive weeks.
THIRD-STRAIGHT
Daishon Knight scored all 18 of his points in the second half as Illinois State used a late rally to earn a 64-54 win over visiting UT Martin Wednesday at Redbird Arena. Illinois State finished the game on a 14-2 run to win its third game in a row and end UT Martin's three-game winning streak. Reggie Lynch scored 12 points, including a career-best 6-for-6 showing from the foul line, to go with eight rebounds. Justin McCloud poured in a career-high 11 points, while MiKyle McIntosh added a team-high nine rebounds.
CONTROLLING THE BOARDS
By outrebounding UT Martin, 41-30, Illinois State has earned the rebounding advantage in five-straight games, and the Redbirds have not been outrebounded yet this season. The Redbirds had not outrebounded five-straight opponents since outrebounding six-straight in 2010-11. ISU ranks No. 2 in the Missouri Valley Conference with a +6.9 rebounding margin after nine games, while comparatively, last year's Redbirds had a -2.9 rebounding margin at the same point.
WINNING ON THE ROAD
This season, Illinois State is striving to improve its road record compared to last year's, and the Redbirds are off to a promising start. While ISU held a dominant 14-3 record on Doug Collins Court at Redbird Arena in 2013-14, the Redbirds went 3-11 in true road contests. Illinois State has already secured two non-conference road victories by beating UAB, 78-74 (Dec. 7), and topping DePaul, 78-72 (Dec. 14). ISU is aiming to win three-straight on the road for the first time since earning three-consecutive road victories during the 2008-09 campaign, from Feb. 4 until Feb. 15.
McCLOUD HEATS UP
After averaging 0.8 points and 3.0 minutes through his first four games, junior guard Justin McCloud has found his stride, averaging 7.0 points and 16.7 minutes through his last three contests. The Bottineau, North Dakota, native netted a career-high 11 points in a career-best 22 minutes during Illinois State's win over UT Martin (Dec. 17).
LYNCH'S BLOCK PARTY
Sophomore center Reggie Lynch has averaged 4.6 blocks per game through ISU's last five contests. The Edina, Minnesota, native is now leading the Missouri Valley Conference and ranks No. 8 nationally with 3.2 blocks per game. Lynch recorded a career-high seven blocked shots in the Redbirds' win over Youngstown State (Nov. 29), followed by six blocks versus both VCU (Dec. 2) and at UAB (Dec. 7). He now ranks No. 6 on the ISU career-blocks list, with 125, behind Joe Galvin's 132 blocks. As a team, Illinois State leads the MVC with 4.7 blocks per game.
McINTOSH GETS HOT
After scoring no more then five points in a game through his first six contests, freshman forward MiKyle McIntosh has averaged 12.7 points and 6.0 rebounds per game during Illinois State's last three matchups. He collected a career-high nine rebounds in his first-career start during ISU's win over UT Martin (Dec. 17). At DePaul (Dec. 14). McIntosh enjoyed a breakout game while leading Illinois State to a 78-74 win at UAB (Dec. 7), scoring a career-high 18 points in 22 minutes on 7-for-10 (70 percent) shooting, including a 3-for-4 (75 percent) effort at the free throw line.
LIGHTING UP KNIGHT
Senior guard Daishon Knight has reached double-figures in 12 out-of-the-last 15 games dating back to last season, including seven out of this year's nine contests. Knight led all scorers with 25 points - one shy of a career-high - to help Illinois State win at DePaul (Dec. 14). He has netted 20 or more points six times throughout his ISU career which began in 2013-14. Knight now leads ISU with 14.2 points per game.
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