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Illinois State University Athletics

Dennis Banks

Men's Basketball

Redbirds Return from Finals to Host Vikings on Sunday

NORMAL, Ill. - Illinois State returns from its finals week break on Sunday afternoon, as the Redbirds host the Cleveland State Vikings in the first game of a men's / women's doubleheader on Doug Collins Court at Redbird Arena.

GAME INFORMATION
Illinois State Redbirds (6-5) vs. Cleveland State Vikings (4-7)
When: Sunday, Dec. 16
Tip-Off: 1 p.m.
Location: Normal, Illinois
Arena: Doug Collins Court at Redbird Arena
TV: The Valley on ESPN (ESPN+)
    Kurt Pegler, play-by-play
    Bob Morris, analyst
Radio: Illinois State Radio Network / TuneIn Radio
    Dick Luedke, play-by-play
    Mike Matthews, analyst
Live Stats: Illinois State Statbroadcast

SETTING THE TABLE


•    Illinois State is coming off of finals week in which its last game was Dec. 8.
•    ISU junior Josh Jefferson has made at least three three-point field goals in each of his last seven games, which is the longest such streak in program history.
•    Illinois State head coach Dan Muller was recently named to the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame Silver Anniversary Team.
•    This ISU senior group has a chance to go down in school history for wins in a four-year period. The group is currently 70-41, and the four-year win record is 91-37 from the 1997-98 season - current head coach Dan Muller's senior season.
•    Illinois State senior Milik Yarbrough ranks third in the MVC in scoring, first in rebounding, and fifth in assists — making him one of five student-athletes in the country to rank inside of his conference's top five in all three categories.
•    The Redbirds are 80-22 at home during head coach Dan Muller's tenure with ISU, including a 4-2 mark this season.
•    ISU senior Yarbrough has been named as one of 50 on the mid-season watch list for the Lou Henson Award — presented annually to the nation's top mid-major player.
•    Keyshawn Evans ranks eighth in school history in career three-pointers made, and seventh in career three-pointers attempted.
•    Illinois State is one of three schools in the country to have two assistant coaches who had won National Titles as student-athletes, joining Duke and Washington.
•    Illinois State is 59-21 all-time against the 10 teams currently in the Horizon League, and are 5-2 against the league under head coach Dan Muller.
•    Milik Yarbrough's season averages of 18.4 points, 8.5 rebounds, and 3.9 assists have him as one of nine student-athletes since 1992-93 to average those numbers.
•    Illinois State's 128-85 record over the last seven years gives the Redbirds the top record in the state of Illinois during that span.
•    Over the last five seasons Illinois State has out-performed its MVC preseason coaches poll prediction.
•    Illinois State head coach Dan Muller ranks ninth in NCAA Division I in coaching wins among coaches at are currently at their alma maters.

SCOUTING THE VIKINGS


Cleveland State comes into the game with a 4-7 overall record and having won its last two games over Bowling Green and Notre Dame (Ohio). 

In the most recent win over Notre Dame (Ohio), the Vikings had four players reach double-figure scoring, led by Stefan Kenic's 18 points. Tyree Applebee, Kasheem Thomas, and Rashad Williams each scored 12 points. Applebee dished out a game-high 10 assists while also grabbing four steals. 

On the season Applebee leads the team in scoring, averaging 16.5 points, while Kenic averages 11.5. Seth Millner (9.0) and Jaalam Hill (8.4) are just off of the double-figure scoring pace.

Hill has pulled down 71 rebounds on the season to lead the team, while Appleby has dished out 58 assists - most on the team, while his 19 steals are also the most by a Vikings player this season.

MANY STRAIGHT FROM DEEP


Starting with the team's win against Akron on Nov. 20 in the Cayman Islands, ISU's Josh Jefferson has made at least three three-point baskets in each of his last seven games. That is the longest-such streak in program history. Prior to his streak-breaking game against Ole Miss, he was tied with Trey Guidry, who accomplished the feat in six straight games during the 2003-04 season. The three-point shot first came to NCAA Division I basketball for the 1985-86 season.

EARLY MANY GAMES


This season the Redbirds have played in 11 games through the early portions of the season. That stands - as of Dec. 10 - as the eighth-most games through this point of the season in the country - along with 36 other schools.

SILVER ANNIVERSARY TEAM


Illinois State head coach Dan Muller was recently named to the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame Silver Anniversary Team. The team includes 10 members named to the 1994 Indiana All-Star squad. Eight other all-state players are included to recognize the top of Indiana's High School class of 1994.

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Players Mentioned

Keyshawn Evans

#3 Keyshawn Evans

G
6' 0"
Senior
Milik Yarbrough

#52 Milik Yarbrough

G
6' 6"
Senior
Josh Jefferson

#11 Josh Jefferson

G
6' 2"
Junior

Players Mentioned

Keyshawn Evans

#3 Keyshawn Evans

6' 0"
Senior
G
Milik Yarbrough

#52 Milik Yarbrough

6' 6"
Senior
G
Josh Jefferson

#11 Josh Jefferson

6' 2"
Junior
G