NORMAL, Ill. – Despite a career-high 30 points from Milik Yarbrough, the shorthanded Illinois State squad was unable to fully recover from a nine-point halftime deficit, battling back to one possession, however, eventually falling 78-72 to the 6-1 Racers.
How It Happened
Illinois State came out firing on all cylinders in the game, despite missing second-leading scorer Phil Fayne. The Redbirds scored the game's first seven points on a three-pointer from Taylor Bruninga and jumpers from Yarbrough and Keyshawn Evans. The Illinois State lead grew to as many as nine with 12:52 to play in the game after a Yarbrough three-pointer; however, Murray State scored a dozen straight to take a four-point lead with 6:11 to play. Murray State kept pushing, and took its lead to nine at 36-27 heading into the locker room at halftime.
The second half lead grew to as many as 13 points, and Murray State led by 12 with 9:27 to play in the game before the Redbirds started their comeback attempt. Illinois State battled back, and closed the gap to as few as two following a William Tinsley three-pointer with 2:37 to play. Every time the Redbirds climbed within a possession, Murray State would answer back, and the visitors held on for a 78-72 win.
Key Moment
With 6:05 to play in the game, Bruninga drained a three-pointer to close the gap to a single possession for the first time since the middle of the first half.
Inside the Box Score
- Yarbrough scored a collegiate-high 30 points making 10-of-19 shots from the field, 2-of-3 from long range, and 8-of-11 from the charity stripe. He also added a team-high seven rebounds and three assists.
- Bruninga scored in double-figures for the second consecutive game with 11 points on 3-of-7 shooting from long range, while making both of his free throw tries. He also added six rebounds in 33 minutes of action.
- Evans was held to a season-low nine points, making 1-of-3 from long range, and all four of his free throw attempts, while tying for the team lead with three assists.
- Tinsley scored a season-high-tying nine points, making 3-of-7 from long range, including the basket to put the Redbirds back within two points late in the contest.
- Madison Williams scored eight points, making 2-of-5 shots from long range and 2-of-3 on his free throw tries, while pulling down four rebounds.
- Illinois State had a 13-to-9 assist-to-turnover ratio in the game.
- For the fifth time this season, Illinois State made 10 or more three-point baskets, making 12-of-31 tries from long range.
Stat of the Game
30: Milik Yarbrough scored 30 points, four more than his previous career-high set when he was a freshman at Saint Louis, on just 19 shots in the game.
What's Next
The Redbirds take a week off for finals, and return to action on Saturday, December 16 when the squad travels to Oxford, Mississippi, to take on the Ole Miss Rebels in a 2:30 tip-off.
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