NORMAL, Ill. – Illinois State will try to secure its first undefeated nonconference home season since 2008-09 when the Redbirds (5-3) host Atlantic 10 foe Saint Joseph's (5-4) Sunday at 3 p.m. on Doug Collins Court at Redbird Arena. ISU is coming off a wire-to-wire, 74-57, victory over UT Martin (Dec. 10), improving the Redbirds' home record to a perfect 5-0 this season. ISU has won four of its past five games, while SJU has won two straight after beating Princeton (Dec. 14).
ILLINOIS STATE VS. SAINT JOSEPH'S • SUNDAY, DEC. 18, 2016 • 3 P.M.
THE SERIES:
Sunday's game marks the second meeting between Illinois State and Saint Joseph's, with the Hawks holding a 1-0 advantage in the all-time series. The two teams last squared off Dec. 19, 2015, with SJU winning, 79-65, in Philadelphia. MiKyle McIntosh scored a team-high 16 points with seven rebounds in last year's game.
THE COACHES:
Illinois State: Dan Muller (Illinois State, 1998) is in his fifth season as the head coach at Illinois State. Muller is the first-ever ISU coach to beat four Top-25 teams in his first four years. He led ISU to the 2015 NIT.
Saint Joseph's: Phil Martelli (Widener, 1976) is in his 22nd season as the head coach at Saint Joseph's. Martelli has guided SJU to 20 or more victories nine times, along with seven NCAA Tourn. appearances, in 21 seasons.
ILLINOIS STATE:
Was picked to finish second (out of 10 teams) in the Missouri Valley Conference ... Was the only team to feature two players (out of five) on the Preseason All-MVC First Team (Paris Lee and MiKyle McIntosh) ... Returns four of five starters and seven of 11 letterwinners from last year's team, which tied for second place in the MVC with a 12-6 record, signifying ISU's highest league finish and most conference wins since the 2007-08 season.
SAINT JOSEPH'S:
Was picked to finish ninth (out of 14 teams) in the Atlantic 10 Conference ... Returns two starters and 11 letterwinners from last year's team which finished 28-8 overall and 13-5 in the A-10 (first overall) ... Earned an automatic bid to the 2016 NCAA Tournament after winning the A-10 Tournament ... Went 1-1 in the NCAA Tournament as a No. 8 seed ... Sophomore guard Lamarr Kimble was named to the 2016 A-10 All-Rookie Team.
VERSUS THE A-10
Illinois State holds a 13-20 record against current members of the Atlantic 10 Conference. Head coach Dan Muller is 2-3 versus the A-10 and 0-1 against Saint Joseph's following a 79-56 loss in Philadelphia Dec. 19, 2015, in the first game of the home-and-home series with the Hawks. Both of Muller's A-10 wins were against Dayton, including an upset victory over the then-No. 25 ranked Flyers Dec. 7, 2013 on Doug Collins Court at Redbird Arena. Meanwhile, Muller has gone 0-2 versus A-10 foe VCU.
HOME COOKING
By earning a 74-57 home-court victory over UT Martin (Dec. 10) before taking last week off for final exams, ISU improved to a perfect 5-0 record on Doug Collins Court at Redbird Arena this season. With one nonconference home game remaining, the Redbirds have secured their best home nonconference record since earning a 6-1 home nonconference mark in 2012-13. Illinois State suffered two nonconference home losses in each of the past three seasons. The Redbirds are aiming for their first unblemished home nonconference record since going 6-0 to start the season at home in 2008-09.
LOCKING DOWN
Illinois State leads the MVC and ranks 25th nationally by averaging 8.9 steals per game. The Redbirds have forced more steals than the opposition in five games, and in two games, steals were even.
DEFENSE WINS GAMES
The Redbirds' defensive efforts have directly correlated with victories. ISU is 5-0 when forcing more turnovers than the opposition and 0-3 when committing more turnovers. Additionally, ISU has turned defense into offense by scoring 126 points off of opponent turnovers, compared to 107 by opponents.
BALANCED ATTACK
For the third time this season, five Redbirds scored in double figures, as Illinois State used a balanced offensive attack to beat UT Martin (Dec. 10): Phil Fayne (12), Deontae Hawkins (12), Paris Lee (12), MiKyle McIntosh (12), Tony Wills (10). Fayne, Hawkins, Lee and McIntosh were also four of ISU's five players to reach double figures in wins over IUPUI (Nov. 30) and Fort Wayne (Nov. 16). The IUPUI game marked the first time since 2013-14 that the Redbirds have featured five players in double figures in two or more games (they achieved this feat five times that year).
A TALE OF TWO HALVES
Illinois State has held the halftime lead in seven of its first eight games. ISU holds a +7.6 scoring margin in first halves this season compared to a -0.9 scoring margin in second halves. The Redbirds are shooting 47.5 percent from the field and 45.6 percent from beyond the arc in first halves versus 41.4 percent from the field and 32.5 percent from 3-point range in second halves. ISU is also averaging 6.4 turnovers (+2.6 turnover margin) in first halves versus 7.5 turnovers per game in second halves (-1.5 turnover margin).
HOLDING THE LEAD
The Redbirds have led by seven or more points in the second half of all three losses this season. In those same three games, Illinois State also held the halftime advantage. ISU led by 14 points at Tulsa (Dec. 7).
THE 200 CLUB
By forcing two steals versus UT Martin (Dec. 10), senior guard Paris Lee increased his career-steals total to 200. Lee is just the second Redbird ever to force 200 or more career steals, and he is currently second on the career-steals list behind Ron Jones (222).
A SEASON FOR GIVING
Senior guard Paris Lee leads the Missouri Valley Conference and ranks 16th nationally with 6.3 assists averaged per game. As a team, ISU ranks second in the MVC and 41st nationally with 16.6 assists per contest. In Redbird victories this season, ISU is averaging 18.0 assists and 12.6 turnovers (1.4 assist-to-turnover ratio) compared to 14.3 assists and 16.0 turnovers (0.9 assist-to-turnover ratio) in losses.
LEE FOR THREE!
Senior guard Paris Lee leads the league and ranks seventh nationally in 3-point field goal percentage (55.0 percent). Lee has netted three or more 3-pointers in ISU's past four games, and he made a career-high five 3-pointers (on eight attempts) at Tulsa (Dec. 7). As a team, Illinois State leads the league and ranks 39th nationally with a 39.8 percent 3-point shooting percentage.
MOVING ON UP
By earning a career-high 11 assists versus New Mexico (Dec. 3), senior guard Paris Lee moved into sole possession of 10th on the Illinois State career-assists list. He passed David Cason (357 from 1993-95). Lee, who now has 369 assists, is one of seven Redbirds to rank in the top 10 in both career steals (Lee is second with 200) and assists. Lee leads the league and ranks 16th nationally with 6.3 assists per game.
WHAT A WEEK!
For the first time in his four-year Redbird career, senior point guard Paris Lee was the Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Week (Dec. 5). Lee averaged 18.0 points, 5.5 rebounds, 8.5 assists – with just 2.0 turnovers – and 2.0 steals in 31.5 minutes per game in wins over New Mexico (Dec. 3) and IUPUI (Nov. 30). He shot 12-for-20 (60.0 percent) from the field, 6-for-11 (54.5 percent) from beyond the arc and 6-for-8 (75.0 percent) at the free throw line. Lee was the first Redbird to earn MVC Player of the Week accolades since Deontae Hawkins garnered player of the week recognition Feb. 8, 2016.
DEEP DISH
Senior guard Paris Lee dished a career-best 11 assists, with just two turnovers, in Illinois State's Mountain West/Missouri Valley Challenge victory over New Mexico (Dec. 3). Lee's 11 assists were the most by a Redbird since Boo Richardson earned 11 versus Lewis Dec. 19, 2006. Lee also matched a season high with 18 points to achieve his first-career double-double and the first ISU double-double consisting of points and assists since Nic Moore scored 24 points with 10 assists at Ole Miss March 14, 2012.
CAREER NIGHTS
Along with Paris Lee's career-best 11 assists, sophomore guard Keyshawn Evans, sophomore forward Phil Fayne and freshman guard Madison Williams each achieved career bests in Illinois State's win over New Mexico (Dec. 3). In his second year with ISU, Evans scored 12 points on 4-for-10 shooting from three-point range, surpassing his previous high of six points. Meanwhile, as first-year Redbirds, Fayne collected a career-high 10 rebounds and Williams scored a career-best seven points.
80 WINS
Fifth-year head coach Dan Muller earned his 80th win by beating New Mexico (Dec. 3). With a current record of 81-61, Muller is the eighth Redbird head coach (out of 19) to achieve 80 victories at Illinois State.
IT'S A STEAL
Senior guard Paris Lee ranks No. 2 among active NCAA players for career steals. He also now ranks in the MVC all-time Top 10 for steals.
NCAA Active Leaders, Career Steals
1. Jalan West, Northwestern State 219 (out until at least late February with a knee injury)
2. Paris Lee, Illinois State 200
3. Monte Morris, Iowa State 182
WINNING AGAINST THE WEST
By beating New Mexico, 79-74, (Dec. 3) Illinois State earned its second win in five attempts throughout the Mountain West/Missouri Valley Challenge. It also marked ISU's first victory in the Challenge Series since winning the series opener at Utah in 2009. With one Challenge Series game left, the MVC has a 5-4 edge.
RECORDS IN REACH
As the Missouri Valley Conference's active career leader in steals and assists, senior guard Paris Lee will undoubtedly leave his mark in the Illinois State record book. Lee ranks second in career steals (200) behind Ron Jones (222 from 1976-80). Lee also ranks 10th in career assists (369). Additionally, Lee has 930 points, just 70 away from becoming the 42nd member of the 1,000-point club.
GOOD WORKS
Junior forward MiKyle McIntosh is one of 111 NCAA Division I men's basketball student-athletes nominated for the 2017 Allstate Good Works Team. A panel will select the final 10-member team (unveiled in February). McIntosh is a two-time AFNI Honor Roll member and has volunteered more than 15 hours.
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