NORMAL, Ill. – Celebrating their 25th anniversary, members of the 1989-90 Missouri Valley Conference Tournament-Champion Illinois State men's basketball team gathered for a Redbird for Life (RB4L) reunion Saturday afternoon at Redbird Arena.
The 1989-90 Redbirds, who were 6-9 at mid-season, won nine of their final 12 regular-season games to tie for second place in the Missouri Valley Conference. ISU then beat Southern Illinois in front of a record-crowd at Redbird Arena to win the last-ever on-campus Valley Tournament Championship. The Redbirds went on to meet defending-champion Michigan in the NCAA Tournament.
"That whole year was nothing but great memories. These players were incredible," said former ISU head men's basketball coach Bob Bender while recalling his experience leading the 1989-90 team. "Looking at them now, it is amazing to think that when I came in, a lot of them were seniors in college. Now, seeing them with their families, and seeing the success they've had and where they are in their lives, it's not surprising."
Players, coaches, managers and staff from the 1989-90 team gathered Saturday afternoon for a social in the Redbird Arena Legends Room before taking a tour of the Richard and Fran Owen Strength and Conditioning Center and the Franke Family Illinois State Basketball Locker Room. The group also attended Saturday's Mississippi Valley State at ISU football game.
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