Box Score | Dan Muller Interview
DJ Clayton Interview
CARBONDALE, Ill. – After Illinois State and Southern Illinois both shot 12-for-23 (52.2 percent) in the first half, the Redbirds held the Salukis to 5-for-27 (18.5 percent) shooting in the second half to surmount a four-point halftime deficit en route to a 60-53 Missouri Valley Conference victory over SIU Wednesday night at SIU Arena.
The Redbirds (13-4 overall) won their sixth-straight game and improved to 5-0 in the MVC for the first time since starting the 2007-08 season with a 6-0 record before suffering their first loss. ISU has also won its first three league road games of the season for the first time since 1997-98.
Following Wednesday's win, Illinois State returns to Doug Collins Court at Redbird Arena to host MVC preseason favorite Wichita State – also 5-0 in the league – Saturday at 7 p.m. in a battle for first place. Southern Illinois (10-8) had its three-game winning streak snapped and fell to 3-2 in the MVC.
DJ Clayton matched a career high with 13 points on a career-best 6-for-7 (85.7 percent) shooting in the winning effort. Deontae Hawkins collected a game-high eight rebounds and scored 11 points, and Paris Lee netted 10 points with four assists and three steals. Sean O'Brien led Southern Illinois with 15 points and seven rebounds. The Redbirds shot 23-for-49 (46.9 percent) from the field, while the Salukis finished 17-for-50 (34.0 percent) from the field.
Southern Illinois built a 5-0 lead before MiKyle McIntosh put Illinois State on the board with a hook shot at the 17:56 mark. After the Salukis took a 9-4 advantage, Illinois State answered with a 5-2 run to pull within 11-9 on a Phil Fayne layup with 12:47 remaining. Southern Illinois went on to hold a 20-13 advantage.
Tony Wills responded by burying a 3-pointer to spark an 8-2 run which pulled the Redbirds within 22-21 on a Lee steal and ensuing fastbreak layup at the 6:05 mark. Then, Clayton forced a steal and scored on a fastbreak dunk to tie the game at 24-24. However, Southern Illinois outscored Illinois State, 9-5, to end the first half, and ISU trailed, 33-29, at halftime. Clayton led the Redbirds with nine first-half points.
The Redbirds opened the second half with a 7-2 run and took their first lead of the game on a Lee 3-pointer at the 15:33 mark which pushed ISU ahead, 36-35. Defensively, Illinois State held Southern Illinois without a field goal in the second half until a Leo Vincent trifecta with 14:02 remaining which made the score 38-36 in favor of SIU. Illinois State answered with a 9-0 run to build a 45-38 lead on a Keyshawn Evans 3-pointer at the 11:23 mark. A trifecta by Rudy Stradnieks pulled the Salukis within 45-42 with 9:27 remaining.
Then, with ISU leading, 47-44, Hawkins converted a three-point play to lift the Redbirds ahead by a six-point margin, 50-44, at the 8:10 mark. A two-handed dunk by Fayne pushed the Redbird advantage to 52-44. However, Southern Illinois responded with four-unanswered points to pull within 52-48. On the other end, Evans buried a 3-pointer and Hawkins netted a layup which extended ISU's lead to 57-48 at the 1:36 mark, and Illinois State held on in the final 90 seconds for the seven-point victory.
Now 5-0 in the Missouri Valley Conference, the Redbirds next face Wichita State – also 5-0 in the MVC – in a battle for sole possession of first place in the league standings, Saturday at 7 p.m., on Doug Collins Court at Redbird Arena.
For tickets to Redbird home games, navigate to GoRedbirds.com/Tickets, call (309) 438-8000 or visit the Illinois State Athletics Ticket Office at the north entrance to Redbird Arena. Saturday's game can also be seen on ESPN2 and heard on WJBC 1230-AM.
GoRedbirds.com: Your online source for Illinois State Athletics, tickets, Weisbecker Scholarship Fund gifts, multimedia, Redbird merchandise, photos and more.
