Redbirds Travel to Face Nevada as Part of the Mountain West/Missouri Valley Challenge

NORMAL, Ill. - The Illinois State Redbirds take to the road after a two-game homestand, and travel to face off against the undefeated Nevada Wolf Pack in the Mountain West/Missouri Valley Challenge.

GAME INFORMATION
Illinois State Redbirds (3-3) vs. (RV) Nevada Wolf Pack (6-0)
When: Wednesday, Nov. 29, 2017
Tip-Off: 9 p.m. CT 
Location: Reno, Nev.
Arena: Lawlor Events Center
TV: Stadium College Basketball / Facebook Live Stream
    Ari Wolfe, play-by-play
    Darius Walker, analyst
Radio: Illinois State Radio Network
    Dick Luedke, play-by-play
    Mike Matthews, analyst
Live Stats: Nevada StatBroadcast

SETTING THE TABLE

•    Keyshawn Evans was named the Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Week on November 20.
•    Evans and Phil Fayne combine to average 39.8 points per game this season, the highest combined total in the Missouri Valley Conference, and 11th-highest in NCAA Division I this season.
•    In six of Illinois State's first nine games, the Redbirds will be facing off against a team for the first time in program history.
•    The Redbirds are 3-1 this season when leading at halftime.
•    Evans is one of six active players in NCAA Division I averaging at least 23.0 points and 4.3 assists per game.
•    Illinois State's 107-68 record over the last five-plus seasons (Dan Muller's tenure) is the most wins and highest winning percentage in the state of Illinois.
•    Evans stands second in NCAA Division I in three-point field goals per game, third in total three-point field goals, and 30th in three-point field goal percentage.
•    Illinois State has had six runs of at least nine straight points this season, including a 20-0 run against Tulsa and a 17-0 run against Boise State.
•    When Illinois State faced South Carolina, it was the fifth time in Dan Muller's tenure that one of his teams had faced a team that played in the Final Four a year earlier.
•    Both Fayne and Evans have scored in double-figures in all six games this season.
•    In each of the last four seasons, Illinois State's men's basketball program has exceed its preseason coaches poll expectation.
•    In Illinois State's first nine games of the 2017-18 season, it will face off against six schools that the program has never faced before on the basketball court.
•    Illinois State has led for over 47 minutes more than it has trailed this season.
•    Illinois State is 12-2 all-time on November 29

SCOUTING THE WOLF PACK

Nevada comes into the game ranked 27th in the AP Top 25 with a perfect 6-0 record with wins over Idaho, Rhode Island, Santa Clara, Pacific, Davidson, and Hawai'i. 

In the team's last game, a 67-54 win at Hawai'i, Caleb Martin scored a game-high 22 points to lead the Wolf Pack. Cody Martin scored 16 points, while Jordan Carolina chipped in 13. Lindsey Drew finished just off of the double-figure pace with eight points, as those four combined for 59 of the team's 67 points. 

Cody Martin pulled down seven rebounds with three blocked shots and three steals. Nevada was out-rebounded 36-to-35 in the game, while dishing out eight assists against 11 turnovers, and nabbing seven steals in the process.

For the year the Wolf Pack has four players averaging in double-figure scoring, led by Caleb Martin's 19.3 average, while Caroline averages 17.2, Cody Martin 15.2, and Josh Hall 10.3. Drew is just off of the pace at 7.8 points per game. 

Caroline averages a team-best 9.2 rebounds per game, while Drew has 29 assists to pace the squad, and Cody Martin 13 steals and 11 blocked shots, which represent the high-mark on the team.

DYNAMIC SCORING DUO

The Illinois State junior pair of Keyshawn Evans and Phil Fayne combine to average 39.8 points per game. That scoring combination not only leads the MVC, but is the 11th highest pair combo in the NCAA this season (as of games played on 11/26).

RARE AIR WITH SCORING AND PASSING

This season Illinois State junior Keyshawn Evans is averaging 23.0 points and 4.3 assists per game, which puts him in elite company. He is one of just five players to average such numbers in the NCAA this season, and is on pace to become just the 46th player in the NCAA since 1992-93 to average such numbers. Among others that have averaged 23 points and 4.3 assists per game for an entire season include Steph Curry, Penny Hardaway, Damon Stoudamire, J.J. Barea, Kemba Walker, Allen Iverson, and Markelle Fultz. 

DIALING UP FROM LONG DISTANCE

Illinois State junior Keyshawn Evans has been putting up three-point shots at a rate and at a percentage that puts him as one of the top shooters in the country through two weeks of the season. Evans ranks third in total three-point field goals, second in three-point field goals per game, and 30th in three-point field goal percentage (with a minimum of 2.5 makes per game).

RUNNING ON (NOT SO) EMPTY

This season in its six games, Illinois State has six runs of nine points or more. To end Illinois State's loss at Boise State, the Redbirds closed the game on a 19-5 run, before starting its game against Tulsa with a 26-7 run, combining for a 45-12 run between the two games