Tuttle leads the MVC with 16.6 points per league game, while Knight is No. 2 with 16.1 points per conference contest. Knight has scored 20 or more points in three-straight games, as the Redbirds have earned victories in four out of their last five contests, including two straight.
Illinois State is aiming to claim victory over a Top-25 opponent for the fourth-straight season, and the Redbirds are trying to win their second consecutive over Northern Iowa at home.
TELEVISION BROADCAST
Sunday's game will be televised live on ESPNU and ESPN3:
- Comcast XFINITY (Bloomington-Normal): 511, 961
- DirecTV: 208
- DISH: 141
- AT&T U-Verse: 605, 1605
- Comcast XFINITY (Chicago-area): 253, 405
- Mediacom: 178
- ESPN3.com
THE SERIES:
Illinois State hosts Northern Iowa Sunday afternoon for the 68th meeting in the all-time series dating back to 1899, which was ISU's first-ever basketball season. UNI was the first current Missouri Valley Conference school that the Redbirds ever played, with ISU winning, 12-4, April 3, 1899 in Cedar Falls, Iowa. Illinois State holds a 21-9 advantage in games played against the Panthers in Normal, Illinois, including a 14-9 mark versus UNI at Redbird Arena. Head coach Dan Muller is 2-3 against Northern Iowa, with the home team winning each time last year.
WHAT'S AT STAKE?:
The Redbirds are aiming to earn their third-straight Missouri Valley Conference victory after winning two in a row, and four of their last five. Northern Iowa is going for its seventh-straigtht victory. Illinois State is also striving to beat a Top-25 opponent at home for the second-straight year. The Redbirds are 10-54 versus Top-25 foes.
ILLINOIS STATE AT A GLANCE:
Improved to 12-7 and 4-3 in the MVC after winning at Drake (Jan. 20) ... earned wins over Top-25 teams in each of the last three seasons ... leads the MVC in rebounding margin, steals and offensive rebounds per game ... earned three MVC Newcomer of the Week accolades ... selected to finish fifth in the MVC.
NORTHERN IOWA AT A GLANCE:
Improved to 17-2 and 6-1 in the MVC after beating Indiana State (Jan. 21) ... picked to finish second in the MVC this year ... earned a 16-15 overall record and a 10-8 league-mark to finish third in the MVC last season … returning all five of last season's starters, including Seth Tuttle, who leads UNI in scoring, rebounding and assists.
TAKING ON THE TOP 25
By hosting No. 19 Northern Iowa, Illinois State is facing its second Top-25 foe of the season. In ISU's first Top-25 matchup, the Redbirds fell, 70-62, at No. 16 Wichita State (Jan. 4). When ISU hosted VCU Dec. 2, the Rams had just fallen from the Top 25, although they were still receiving votes. ISU is trying to beat a Top-25 team for the fourth time in as many seasons, after topping No. 25 Dayton at home (Dec. 7, 2013), winning at No. 16 Creighton (Feb. 9, 2013), and edging No. 15 Wichita State at the MVC Tournament (Mar. 3, 2012). Versus Top-25 opponents, ISU is 10-54 overall, 4-16 in Normal, Illinois, and 1-9 at Redbird Arena.
SOPHOMORE SWATTER
With 48 blocks this season, sophomore center Reggie Lynch enters Sunday afternoon's game tied with Joe Galvin (1976-80) for the Illinois State sophomore blocks record. One more block will establish a new sophomore benchmark. With three blocks at Drake (Jan. 20), Lynch increased his career total to 144 blocks, which ranks No. 3 on ISU's career blocks list. Greg Dilligard (2004-07) is No. 2 on the list with 160 blocks. Lynch's 96 blocks last season set Illinois State's freshman blocks mark.
GAME KNIGHT
Senior guard Daishon Knight ranks No. 2 in Missouri Valley Conference game-scoring, with 16.1 points per conference contest. Knight has netted 20 or more point in three-straight games. Knight has recorded double figures in a team-best 20 out of the last 25 games, dating back to last season, including 15-of-19 this year. He has scored 20 or more points in a team-best 11 games throughout his two-year ISU career.
GAINING MOMENTUM
With a 64-56 win at Drake (Jan. 20), the Redbirds have won two-straight and four out of their last five. By winning two Missouri Valley Conference road games, ISU has already eclipsed its 2013-14 league road record of 1-8. Illinois State is now aiming to win three-straight games for the second time this 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) from beyond the arc, 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 +16.3 scoring margin in victories, compared to a -5.1 scoring deficit in losses. The Redbirds have earned eight (out of 12) 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 steals (7.8) per game and rank second in blocks (4.2), which is No. 49 and No. 102 in the nation, respectively. Sophomore guard Paris Lee leads the MVC and is No. 11 in the nation with 2.5 steals per contest, while sophomore center Reggie Lynch is averaging a league-best 2.8 blocks per game, which ranks No. 19 nationally.
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 +1.21 turnover margin. Comparatively, last year's Redbirds had a -2.2 rebounding margin, a -0.5 scoring margin and a +0.8 turnover margin at the same point.
REBOUNDING DIVIDEND
The Redbirds lead the Missouri Valley Conference with 13.3 offensive rebounds per game. ISU has established a +4.2 offensive rebounding margin (252-172) while holding an advantage on the offensive glass in 13 games, with one tie. ISU has capitalized on its offensive boards, scoring 102 more second-chance points than its opponents (226-124). In all seven 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 15 out-of 19 games. Sophomore center Reggie Lynch is No. 1 in the MVC with 2.9 offensive rebounds per contest.
BENCH BATTLES
Illinois State's bench has held the scoring advantage in 15 out of 19 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 four of Illinois State's Missouri Valley Conference victories, with the Redbird bench outscoring its opposition by a combined 103-70 margin.
SCHEDULE STRENGTH
Illinois State's non-conference strength of schedule is ranked No. 34 in the nation according to the Jan. 23 Collegiate Basketball News RPI Report. ISU's No. 34 NCSS ranks third in the Missouri Valley Conference behind Wichita State (No. 12) and Drake (No. 31). ISU's RPI is No. 112, which is fifth-best in the league.
FROM WORST TO FIRST
Illinois State leads the Missouri Valley Conference and ranks No. 27 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 six out of its seven conference games this season, and ISU has only been outrebounded three times this year. ISU also leads the MVC with 13.3 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 12-4 when leading at halftime and 0-3 when trailing at the half. ISU has also earned a cumulative +8.6 scoring margin in the first half, compared to a -0.8 scoring margin in the second half.
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