Redbirds Tip-Off 2018-19 Season with Exhibition Against Lewis

NORMAL, Ill. - The 2018-19 season opens on Tuesday evening, when Illinois State hosts the Lewis Flyers in the first of two exhibitions for the Redbirds.

GAME INFORMATION
Illinois State Redbirds (18-15, 10-8 MVC) vs. Lewis Flyers (15-14, 10-8 GLVC)
When: Tuesday, Oct. 29
Tip-Off: 7 p.m.
Location: Normal, Illinois
Arena: Doug Collins Court at Redbird Arena (10,200)
Radio: WZND 103.3 FM
     Play-by-Play: Julie Martin
     Analyst: Mitch Stengel
Live Stats: Illinois State StatBroadcast

SCOUTING THE FLYERS

Lewis comes into their sole exhibition game of the season returning three starters from a 15-14 team a season earlier. 

Among the returnees is guard/forward Delaney Blaylock, who averaged 15.4 points last season, while adding 5.0 rebounds - both marks second-best on the team. Adam Pischke returns after averaging 11.1 points while dishing out a team-best 72 assists against just 44 turnovers. Both Blaylock (38.7%) and Pischke (37.0%) made over 35 percent of their three-point tries last year.

SCOUTING THE REDBIRDS

Illinois State comes into the first of two exhibitions returning its top four scorers from last season, and nearly 90 percent of the total points from an 18-15 season a year ago.

Leading the returnees for ISU is 2018 MVC Newcomer of the Year Milik Yarbrough who averaged 16.6 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 4.8 assists per game - all three totals ranking inside of the conference's top five. Phil Fayne also returns after putting up 15.6 points and pulling down a team-best 7.4 rebounds per game. Keyshawn Evans, who averaged 15.2 points while shooting 42 percent from long range (91-of-217) also returns for ISU.

LAST SEASON

Last season these two teams met during the exhibition season, and ISU won by a 79-52 final score. Yarbrough scored 25 points for ISU, while William Tinsley scored 17 and Fayne 12. Yarbrough added eight rebounds, three assists, and two blocked shots in just 22 minutes of action in the contest. Returnee, and Bloomington native Jake Reinhart scored a team-high 10 points for Lewis, as Donovan Oliver - who is also returning for 2018-19 - secured eight rebounds.