NORMAL, Ill. – Three players reached double-figure scoring, as Illinois State used a late push to move past Chicago State 75-71 on Tuesday evening in a game of the on-campus portion of the Cayman Islands Classic.
How It Happened
The Redbirds scored five of the first seven points of the game, and ISU's lead grew to as many as 13 on a three-pointer by Josh Jefferson with 7:28 to play in the opening half, before Chicago State cut the gap to 10 heading into the locker room at halftime.
The visiting Cougars started chipping away at the deficit and ran off a 13-0 run to take a six-point, 68-62 lead with just over four minutes to play in the game. The Redbird defense tightened, and ISU closed the game on a 13-3 run. The highlight of the late run included a stretch of back-to-back possessions of which Keyshawn Evans forced a steal and a lay-up, and then forcing Chicago State into a ten-second count. ISU took the lead for good on a Phil Fayne lay-in with 1:22 to play in the 75-71 Redbird win.
Key Moment
Back-to-back possessions late in the game in which the Redbird defense tightened and forced the Cougars into turnovers and converting on the offensive end, kicking off a game-ending 13-3 run for ISU.
Inside the Box Score
- Milik Yarbrough scored a game-high 25 points, making 10-of-19 shots from the field while adding nine rebounds and seven assists.
- Fayne made 6-of-8 shots from the field, scoring 15 points with three blocked shots.
- Jefferson scored 13 points, making three long-range shots, and adding two rebounds.
- Illinois State made 45.9 percent of its shots from the field in the game and had an 18-to-12 assist-to-turnover ratio.
Stat of the Game
18-to-12: Illinois State's assist-to-turnover ratio is the third time in three games in which the Redbirds' assist-to-turnover ratio was a positive number.
What's Next
Illinois State returns to action on Monday, Nov. 19 in the first round of the on-site portion of the Cayman Islands Classic, and the squad will face off against Georgia with a 12:30 p.m. tip-off.
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