FINAL STATS
DAN MULLER INTERVIEW | MiKYLE McINTOSH INTERVIEW
TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – Despite building a 13-point lead late in the first half, the Illinois State men's basketball team gave up a six-point halftime advantage in a 77-65 loss to Indiana State in Missouri Valley Conference action Saturday afternoon at Hulman Center.
The Redbirds (9-8, 3-1 MVC) suffered their first MVC loss of the year and saw their season-best four-game winning streak come to an end. The Sycamores (9-7, 3-1 MVC) outscored Illinois State, 49-31, in the second half to secure the victory.
MiKyle McIntosh scored a career-high 20 points and Paris Lee mated a career best with 18 points to lead the Redbirds, while Brenton Scott netted 25 points for the Sycamores. Illinois State shot 38.1 percent from the field, and Indiana State shot 40.0 percent. The Sycamores also outrebounded the Redbirds, 45-33.
Illinois State built an 8-0 lead in the first three and a half minutes of the game, as DeVaughn Akoon-Purcell scored a layup, and Lee buried back-to-back 3-pointers from the right wing. Indiana State was held scoreless until Devonte Brown made two free throws at the 16:19 mark. A Nick Banyard 3-pointer pushed ISU's advantage to 11-2 Â before Indiana State scored its first field goal on a 3-pointer by Brown with 14:51 remaining in the first half.
After Indiana State pulled within 13-8, ISU scored four-straight to build a 17-8 advantage. The Sycamores then scored eight-unanswered points, cutting Illinois State's lead to 17-16 before McIntosh stopped the run with a layup, making the score 19-16. Indiana State got as close as 20-19 before the Redbirds manufactured a 12-0 run, capped by a Quintin Brewer hook shot to make it 32-19 at the 3:25 mark. The Sycamores finished the first half on a 9-2 run, cutting Illinois State's halftime lead to 34-28.
Indiana State outscored Illinois State, 5-2, to start the second half, pulling within 36-33. After Illinois State built a 40-34 advantage with 17:17 remaining, the Sycamores went on a 9-2 run to take their first lead, 43-42, on a Khristian Smith jumper at the 14:46 mark. Indiana State extended its lead to 45-42 before McIntosh answered with a layup; however, Indiana State went on to build a 60-49 advantage.
Illinois State pulled within 62-60 with a 13-3 run, capped by two McIntosh free throws at the 5:33 mark. But, Indiana State outscored the Redbirds, 15-5, over the final 5:43 to secure the victory.
The Redbirds remain on the road and will look to bounce back when they face Southern Illinois Tuesday, Jan. 12 at 7 p.m. at SIU Arena, live on ESPN3.
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