DES MOINES, Iowa – After winning two-straight games at Drake over the last two seasons, the Illinois State men's basketball team will try to extend its streak when the Redbirds visit the Bulldogs at the Knapp Center Tuesday at 7 p.m.
Both teams are coming off of Missouri Valley Conference victories, with ISU (11-7, 3-3 MVC) beating I-74 Rival Bradley Saturday evening and DU (4-14, 1-5 MVC) earning its first league victory of the season by winning at Indiana State. ISU topped Drake earlier this season, 81-45, in Normal, Illinois (Jan. 7).
Drake's Gary Ricks, Jr., is the MVC Player of the Week after averaging 23.5 points per game through the Bulldogs' last two contests. Illinois State's Daishon Knight is one of the most productive players on the road this year, averaging nearly 19.7 points per game in road games.
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THE SERIES:
Illinois State travels to Drake Tuesday night for the 82nd meeting in the all-time series dating back to 1974, which the Redbirds lead, 52-29. ISU has an 11-12 record in games played against the Bulldogs in Des Moines, Iowa, including an 11-12 mark at the Knapp Center. Head coach Dan Muller is 4-1 versus Drake.
WHAT'S AT STAKE?:
The Redbirds are striving to win back-to-back Missouri Valley Conference games for the second time this season, and ISU is aiming for its second league road win of the year after earning just one MVC road victory last season. Illinois State is trying to extend its four-game winning streak versus Drake, which is ISU's longest current streak versus an MVC foe, and the Redbirds are striving to win their third-straight at DU's Knapp Center. Meanwhile, Drake is trying to win its second MVC game of the year after beating Indiana State (Jan. 17).
ILLINOIS STATE AT A GLANCE:
Improved to 11-7 overall and 3-3 in the MVC after beating Bradley, 82-72, on Doug Collins Court at Redbird Arena (Jan. 17) in the first round of this year's I-74 Rivalry series ... leads the MVC in rebounding margin, blocks, steals and offensive rebounds per game ... led by senior guard Daishon Knight who is averaging 15.3 points per game, with back-to-back totals of 20 or more points ... three players have recorded double-doubles this season ... won the first meeting versus Drake (Jan. 7) ... selected to finish fifth in the MVC.
DRAKE AT A GLANCE:
Improved to 4-14 and 1-5 in the MVC after handing Indiana State its first conference loss of the season in an 84-78 victory over the Sycamores in Terre Haute, Indiana (Jan. 17) ... picked to finish ninth in the MVC this year ... went 15-16 overall and 6-12, tied for eighth, in the MVC last season … returning two of last year's five starters, including Gary Ricks, Jr., who is the MVC Player of the Week while leading Drake with 11.1 points per game … former Illinois State assistant coach Ray Giacoletti is in his second season as Drake's head coach.
EARLIER THIS SEASON VS. DRAKE
Illinois State (9-6, 1-2 MVC at the time) used a pair of first-half runs to build an early lead and maintained a comfortable advantage throughout the second half as the Redbirds downed visiting Drake, 81-45, on Doug Collins Court at Redbird Arena (Jan. 7). Daishon Knight led the Redbirds with a game-high 15 points, while Tony Wills and Paris Lee joined him in double figures, with 10 and 12 points, respectively.
AWAY ON BUSINESS
With a win at Missouri State (Jan. 11), Illinois State earned its third road victory of the season. The Redbirds – who also posted quality wins at UAB (Dec. 7) and at DePaul (Dec. 14) – have earned the rebounding advantage in all six of their road contest for a +5.8 road-rebounding margin. ISU also holds a +0.5 scoring margin in away games, and senior guard Daishon Knight has particularly thrived, averaging 19.7 points per road game, compared to his overall average of 15.3 points per contest. ISU has already matched its overall and Missouri Valley Conference road-wins totals from last season.
RAINING 3s
Illinois State and Bradley combined for 25 3-pointers – one shy of matching a Redbird Arena record – in the Redbirds' win over the Braves (Jan. 17). ISU shot a season-best 13-for-25 (52.0 percent), marking Illinois State's most trifectas since netting 15 at Oakland last season (Dec. 16, 2013). Senior guard Daishon Knight matched a career best with five 3-pointers on seven attempts.
DECISIVE WINS, CLOSE LOSSES
Illinois State is averaging a +17.0 scoring margin in victories compared to a -5.1 scoring deficit in losses. The Redbirds have earned eight (out of 11) double-digit wins compared to just one double-digit loss (out of seven). Five of Illinois State's defeats have been by five points or less.
DEFENSIVE DOMINANCE
The Redbirds lead the Missouri Valley Conference in both blocks (4.2) and steals (7.9) per game, which ranks No. 94 and No. 45 in the nation, respectively. Sophomore center Reggie Lynch is averaging a league-best 2.8 blocks per game, which ranks No. 20 nationally, while sophomore guard Paris Lee leads the MVC and is No. 11 in the nation with 2.8 steals per contest.
BALANCING ACT
Along with ISU's impressive defensive statistics, the Redbirds rank No. 1 in the Missouri Valley Conference with a +6.3 rebounding margin, No. 4 in the MVC with a +8.4 scoring margin and No. 2 with a +1.28 turnover margin. Comparatively, last year's Redbirds had a -2.2 rebounding margin, a +0.3 scoring margin and a +0.7 turnover margin at the same point.
REBOUNDING DIVIDEND
The Redbirds lead the Missouri Valley Conference with 13.5 offensive rebounds per game. ISU has established a +4.6 offensive rebounding margin (243-161) while holding an advantage on the offensive glass in 13 games, with one tie. ISU has capitalized on its offensive boards, scoring 97 more second-chance points than its opponents (219-122). In all five of the Redbirds' MVC games, ISU has earned the advantage in second-chance points.
CONTROLLING THE BOARDS
Illinois State has only been outrebounded three times this season (at Murray State, Dec. 20, vs. Indiana State, Dec. 31 and vs. Bradley, Jan. 17). The Redbirds started the year by outrebounding their opponents in five-straight games, a feat Illinois State had not accomplished since outrebounding six-straight opponents in 2010-11. ISU has earned the rebounding edge in 14 out-of-18 games. Sophomore center Reggie Lynch is No. 1 in the MVC with 2.8 offensive rebounds per contest.
BENCH BATTLES
Illinois State's bench has held the scoring advantage in 14 out-of 18 games this season, with one tie. When the Redbirds outscore their opponent's bench, they are 11-3 this season. ISU is also 11-6 when the bench reaches double figures. Bench production has proven key in all three of Illinois State's Missouri Valley Conference victories, with the Redbird bench outscoring Drake (Jan. 7), Missouri State (Jan. 11) and Bradley (Jan. 14) by a combined 94-53 margin.
SCHEDULE STRENGTH
Illinois State's non-conference strength of schedule is ranked No. 27 in the nation according to the Jan. 19 Collegiate Basketball News RPI Report. ISU's 27 NCSS ranks second in the Missouri Valley Conference behind Wichita State (No. 11). Illinois State's RPI is No. 111, which is fifth-best in the league.
FROM WORST TO FIRST
Illinois State leads the Missouri Valley Conference and ranks No. 32 nationally with a +6.3 rebounding margin. At the end of the 2013-14 season, the undersized Redbirds ranked last in the MVC, with a -2.6 rebounding margin. Illinois State has held the rebounding advantage in five out-of its six conference games this season, and ISU has only been outrebounded three times this year. ISU also leads the MVC with 13.5 offensive rebounds averaged per contest.
FIRST-HALF ATTACK
The Redbirds have held the halftime advantage in all but three games so far this season. The only times ISU trailed at intermission were during the Redbirds' losses to Seton Hall (Nov. 24), at No. 16 Wichita State (Jan. 4) and at Indiana State (Jan. 14). ISU has not yet had a halftime deficit at Redbird Arena this year. Illinois State is 11-4 when leading at halftime and 0-3 when trailing at the half. ISU has also earned a cumulative +9.0 scoring margin in the first half, compared to a -1.2 scoring margin in the second half.
SOPHOMORE MARK IN SIGHT
With two more blocks at Indiana State (Jan. 14), sophomore center Reggie Lynch increased his career total to 141 blocks, which ranks No. 4 on ISU's career blocks list. Lynch is now in pursuit of LeRoy Watkins (1996-99), whose total of 143 blocks ranks No. 3. With 45 blocks this season, Lynch is also in pursuit of ISU's sophomore record of 48, held by Joe Galvin (1976-80). Lynch's 96 blocks last season set Illinois State's freshman blocks mark.
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