Redbirds Host Drake in Home Finale on Wednesday

NORMAL, Ill. - The Illinois State Redbirds host Drake on Wednesday night in the 2017-18 home finale at Redbird Arena. Fans are encouraged to wear red, as the Redbirds will be wearing their red jerseys for the game.

GAME INFORMATION
Illinois State Redbirds (15-13, 9-7 MVC) vs. Drake Bulldogs (16-13, 10-6 MVC)
When: Wednesday, Feb. 21
Tip-Off: 7 p.m.
Location: Normal, Illinois
Arena: Doug Collins Court at Redbird Arena (10,200)
TV: ESPN3
   Kurt Pegler, play-by-play
   Bob Morris, analyst
Radio: Illinois State Radio Network
    Dick Luedke, play-by-play
    Mike Matthews, analyst
Live Stats: Illinois State StatBroadcast

SETTING THE TABLE

•    Milik Yarbrough is one of 15 student-athletes in NCAA Division I to rank in the top-10 in his conference in points, rebounds, and assists.
•    In their last game, Illinois State made 15 three-point field goals, two off of the single-game school record, while tying the Redbird Arena mark for three-pointers in a game.
•    Yarbrough is averaging 16.8 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 4.7 assists per game, and is the only active player in the country to average such numbers. If he continues those stats through the end of the season, he will be the 17th such player since 1992-93 to average those numbers or better.
•    Yarbrough stands 17 points shy of reaching 1,000 career collegiate points, with 453 of those coming this season for the Redbirds, and 530 coming from his two years at Saint Louis.
•    Illinois State has played in four overtime games this season (with a 3-1 record in those games), It is the fourth-most overtime games in a season in program history, and the 10th-most overtime games in the country this season.
•    Yarbrough was named the Missouri Valley Conference Newcomer of the Week for the fifth time this season, which is tied for the fifth-most Newcomer of the Week Awards in a single season in Conference history.
•    Illinois State has had 10 different players reach double-figure scoring in a game, which is tied for the 15th-highest total in NCAA Division I this season.
•    Illinois State has used 13 different lineups in its 28 games this season, which are the 11th-most different lineups in the country this season.
•    Against UNI, Illinois State overcame an 11-point halftime deficit, the third time this season that the Redbirds have won after trailing by 10 or more points. It was also the second time this season (at home against Indiana State was the other) that the Redbirds have won after trailing at halftime.
•    This season Illinois State has faced six different teams that have at least 20 wins. 
•    The Redbirds are 101-67 all-time against schools from the state of Iowa (Drake, Iowa, Iowa State, and UNI).
•    Yarbrough ranks fifth in the country in KenPom's assist rate. 
•    ISU's 119-78 record over the last six years is the best record in the state of Illinois during that span. 

SCOUTING THE BULLDOGS

Drake heads into Normal riding a three-game win streak with victories at home against UNI and Indiana State, and a road win at Missouri State.

In the win over the Bears, Reed Timmer drained a three-point attempt with 1.9 seconds to play, and the free throw after gave Drake the four-point win. Timmer scored a game-high 20 points, and was the only Drake player to reach double-figures.

The Bulldogs got 11 rebounds off of the bench from Casey Schlatter, as Drake was out-rebounded 41-39. C.J. Rivers dished out four assists, 

This season the team is led by Timmer, the reigning MVC Player of the Week, who averages 19.1 points per game. Nick McGlynn averages 11.7 points, while De'Antae McMurray pours in 10.4 points per contest while leading the team with 79 assists. 

Graham Woodward averages 9.3, just off the cusp of the double-figure plateau. Rivers leads the team with 173 rebounds (6.0 per game), while McGlynn has a team-best 41 blocked shots.