NORMAL, Ill. – Phil Fayne scored a career-high 30 points, including two free throws with 1.6 seconds left in regulation to send Redbirds into overtime, and Illinois State out-scored Cleveland State 13-2 in the extra period to clinch the 88-77 victory.
How It Happened
The Redbirds got onto the board first with a three-pointer by William Tinsley and led for 16:35 of the opening 20 minutes of the contest. Despite the lopsided lead time, Illinois State found itself trailing 20-19 with 8:35 to play in the first half, before the hosts opened an 11-4 run to lead by eight following a Rey Idowu jumper in the lane. The Vikings would not back down and closed to within two before Idowu closed the scoring in the half with a three-point play, sending the Redbirds into the locker room with a 38-33 lead.
Illinois State's second-half lead grew to as many as six with 14:49 to play in the game, until Cleveland State ran off a 13-2 run to lead by five with 11:21 remaining in the contest. The visitor lead grew to as many as seven with 4:24 to play in the game; however, the Redbirds responded immediately with a 10-0 run to turn the seven-point deficit into a three-point advantage on a Milik Yarbrough jumper with 1:45 to play in the game. The Vikings answered with five straight points, including a pair of free throws with 3.3 seconds on the clock to push CSU to a two-point lead. Fayne was fouled during a drive to the basket, and calmly drained both tries to send the game to an extra period.
ISU got a three-pointer from Zach Copeland to open the scoring in the extra period, setting off a 7-0 overtime-opening run, as the Redbirds kept the Vikings without a field goal in the extra period.
Key Moment
Fayne's two made free throws with 1.6 on the regulation clock sent ISU to the overtime period.
Inside the Box Score
- Fayne scored a career-high 30 points, making 11-of-14 shots from the field, 8-of-9 from the free throw line. He also pulled down a team-high nine rebounds and blocked three shots
- Yarbrough scored 21 points on 9-of-17 shooting from the field while adding seven rebounds and five assists.
- Copeland was the third and final Redbird in double-figures, scoring 12 points with five assists, three rebounds, two steals and a career-high two blocked shots.
- Tinsley narrowly missed double-figures with eight points while adding a pair of rebounds.
- Illinois State made exactly 50 percent of its shots in the first half, second half, and overtime periods.
- Illinois State out-rebounded Cleveland State 40-to-38, which is the third time this season that the Redbirds have out-rebounded their opponent.
Stat of the Game
Dating back to the 2017-18 season, the Illinois State Redbirds have won each of their last seven overtime games. The squad ended last season with five consecutive overtime wins, while winning the two overtime games this season.
What's Next
Illinois State takes to the road on Friday, Dec. 21, as the team travels to Orlando to take on the UCF Knights in a 6 p.m. tip-off.
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