ORLANDO - The Illinois State closes out the non-conference portion of its schedule on Friday evening, as the Redbirds face off against the UCF Knights.
GAME INFORMATION
Illinois State Redbirds (7-5) vs. UCF Knights (9-2)
When: Friday, Dec. 21
Tip-Off: 6 p.m. (CT)
Location: Orlando, Florida
Arena: CFE Arena
TV: ESPN3
Bernie Guenther, play-by-play
Mike O'Donnell, analyst
Radio: Illinois State Radio Network / TuneIn Radio
Dick Luedke, play-by-play
Mike Matthews, analyst
Live Stats: UCF Statbroadcast
SETTING THE TABLE
• Illinois State is 6-0 this season when leading at halftime.
• The game will be Illinois State's first game this season on a Friday.
• The Redbirds have won their last seven overtime games, currently the second-longest active such streak in the NCAA.
• Over the last two seasons, Illinois State's seven overtime wins are the most in the country.
• ISU senior Phil Fayne was been named the Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Week on Dec. 17.
• Illinois State head coach Dan Muller wsa named to the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame Silver Anniversary Team.
• ISU senior Milik Yarbrough is one of just five student-athletes in the country to rank in the top five in his conference in points, rebounds, and assists.
• Illinois State is 5-2 at home this season, and 81-22 on its home floor under current head coach Dan Muller.
• Phil Fayne stands 39 points away from being the 44th member of the program's 1,000-point club.
• Illinois State is 43-23 under current head coach Dan Muller when the scoring margin is within five points at the end of regulation.
• Keyshawn Evans ranks eighth in program history in career three-pointers made, and seventh in career three-pointers attempted.
• Illinois State is 61-71 all-time against the schools that currently comprise the American Athletic Conference.
• Milik Yarbrough was named to the mid-season watch list for the Lou Henson Award, given to the top mid-major player in Division I.
• Illinois State is 6-3 this season when Josh Jefferson makes at least three three-point field goals.
• Illinois State has the best record in the state of Illinois since 2012-13 with a 129-85 overall record, eight more wins than the second team on the list.
• Milik Yarbrough is one of eight players in the country since 1992-93 to average at least 18.6 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 4.0 assists per game.
• ISU head coach Dan Muller has the ninth-most career wins among coaches that are leading their alma maters.
• Illinois State is 16-4 all-time on December 21.
SCOUTING THE KNIGHTS
UCF comes into the game riding a three-game win streak and boasting an overall 9-2 record with losses to Missouri and Florida Atlantic.
In the team's most recent win, a 90-65 win over in-state foe Stetson, Aubrey Dawkins scored a game-high 19 points while pulling down 13 rebounds for the double-double. Tacko Fall and B.J. Taylor each scored 10 points in the 25-point win, while six other players scored at least seven points. Fall blocked a game-high five shots, while Dawkins added two steals in the win.
For the year, Taylor and Dawkins lead the team in scoring at 17.7 and 15.4 points per game, each. Fall - the Knight's 7-6 center - averages 10.6 points and a team-best 6.5 rebounds per game. Terrell Allen has dished out 54 assists to pace the squad, while Fall's 39 blocks (3.5 per game) are second highest in the NCAA.
SOME "EXTRA" FUN
Illinois State has rattled off seven consecutive overtime wins, dating back to its last extra session loss a year ago to Charleston Southern on Nov. 25, 2017. That stands as the second-longest active overtime win streak in the country, as Marquette has won its last nine overtime games, with the Golden Eagles' last extra-time loss coming on Jan. 31, 2015 against Butler. Wyoming had won seven straight overtime games, until its streak was snapped this season on Dec. 11 against Denver. (as of 12/16/18)
Over the last two seasons, the Redbirds have won a total of seven overtime games, which is the most in the country over those two seasons.
Since Dan Muller has taken over the Redbird program, he is 12-6 in overtime games. Those 12 wins during that span are tied for the seventh-most in the NCAA.
ISU's seven straight overtime wins is the second-longest-such streak in program history, trailing on the eight consecutive overtime wins from the 1966-67 season through the 1970-71 season.
active consecutive overtime wins
PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Illinois State forward Phil Fayne earned his first career MVC Player of the Week honor on Dec. 17, as the conference honored him for his performance against Cleveland State which included a career-high 30 points and two free throws with 1.6 seconds remaining in regulation to send the game to the extra period.
CLIMBING NEAR 1K
ISU senior Phil Fayne stands just 39 points away from becoming the 44th-member of the program's 1,000-point club, with two teammates - Milik Yarbrough and Keyshawn Evans - closing in on the milestone as well.
