Redbirds Remain Undefeated In MVC Play With Win Over UNI

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NORMAL, Ill. – Looking to secure its twelfth win in a row and remain perfect in Missouri Valley Conference play, Illinois State looked to senior leader Paris Lee to guide the team against a surging Northern Iowa squad. The senior responded with a game-high 18 points and dished out five assists to lead ISU (19-4, 11-0) to a 57-51 win over UNI (10-12, 5-6 MVC) Wednesday night on Doug Collins Court at Redbird Arena.

The win was the 18th-straight win for the Redbirds at Redbird Arena dating back to last season, which set a Redbird Arena record. The 'Birds also improved to 11-0 in conference play to improve on their best start in MVC play.  Lee was joined in double figures by sophomore Phil Fayne, who recorded his second double-double of the season with 17 points and 10 rebounds against the Panthers. Senior Deontae Hawkins also finished in double digits with 11 points to go along with nine rebounds in the win. 

Fayne scored a backdoor layup to start the game, before Jeremy Morgan lifted Northern Iowa ahead with a 3-pointer which sparked an 8-2 Panther run. Hawkins answered with five-straight Redbird points to pull his team within 10-9. A Lee 3-pointer with 6:33 remaining then tied the game, 12-12, and sparked a 10-0 run to build a 21-12 lead at the 3:19 mark.

ISU held Northern Iowa without a field goal from 8:57 until a Jordan Ashton layup with 47 seconds to play. Ashton followed that with a 3-pointer to cut Illinois State's halftime lead to 23-19. Lee led all first-half scorers with 10 points.

Northern Iowa started the second half with a 5-0 run which gave the Panthers a 24-23 advantage on a pair of Klint Carlson free throws. Illinois State answered with a 15-4 run from 17:26 until 7:39 to lead, 38-28, on a Hawkins jumper. After Juwan McCloud netted a 3-pointer, the Redbirds responded with a 7-2 run to lead, 45-33, on a Lee jumper with 5:27 remaining. Keyshawn Evans' 3-pointer increased Illinois State's advantage to 48-35 at the 4:31 mark.

UNI responded with an 8-2 run to pull within 50-43 with 2:07 remaining. Following a dunk by Hawkins that extended the lead back to nine points at 52-43 a half a minute later, UNI responded with a 3-pointer by Morgan to trim the lead back to six points at 52-46. Evans then nailed a 3-pointer of his own with 46 seconds left on the clock to widen the lead to 55-46, but once again the Panthers fought back with five-straight points to trim the Redbird lead to just four points at 55-51 with 14 seconds remaining.  Lee would then ice the game at the free throw line with a pair of free throws with 11 seconds left to give the Redbirds a 57-51 victory.
 
The Redbirds return to the road next to face Wichita State Saturday at 7 p.m., live on ESPN2 and WJBC 1230-AM. ISU's next home game is Feb. 11 versus Bradley. For tickets to Illinois State 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.

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