NORMAL, Ill. – Illinois State got a 20-point, 12-rebound double-double from Phil Fayne, and a 15-point effort from newcomer Josh Jefferson, as the Redbirds shrugged off a slow start to pull away in a 80-58 exhibition win over the Lewis Flyers.
How It Happened
The Redbirds got off to a slow start in the game, and Lewis jumped out to an early five-point, 9-4 lead, before Illinois State battled back, and used an 8-0 run – capped by a Josh Jefferson three-pointer – to take a 14-12 advantage. Lewis would take the lead three more times the rest of the way – each time with one point, and the last time at 35-34 with 4:55 to play in the period. After the last one-point deficit, ISU closed the first half on a 12-2 run, taking a nine-point, 46-37 lead into the locker room at halftime.
The second half saw the Redbirds run out runs of 9-0 and two 7-0 runs to push ahead to the 22-point win.
Key Moment
A pair of Phil Fayne free throws with 12:29 to play in the game capped off a 9-0 ISU run, pushing the margin to double digits, where it remained for the rest of the contest.
Inside the Box Score
- Fayne scored a game-high 20 points with a game-high 12 rebounds, while making 8-of-12 attempts from the free throw line.
- Jefferson scored 15 points, making 3-of-7 from long range.
- Zach Copeland scored 11 points with four assists and two steals.
- Matt Hein had six points, six assists, and two steals.
- Freshman Rey Idowu had eight points with eight rebounds.
- William Tinsley scored eight points with seven rebounds.
- Illinois State out-rebounded Lewis 43-33, including 24-13 in the second half.
- The Redbirds made 10-of-27 shots from long range (37.0%) and 27-of-55 (49.1%) from the field.
Stat of the Game
21-30: All eight players that saw action in the game tonight played at least 21 minutes, and just one playing at the 30-minute mark (30 minutes for Isaac Gassman).
What's Next
Illinois State returns to action on Saturday, Nov. 3, hosting Augustana College, who was recently picked as the No. 3 preseason team in NCAA Division III by the website D3Hoops.com's preseason poll.
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