ISU Returns Home to Battle Salukis

NORMAL, Ill. - The Illinois State Redbirds will look to extend their three-game home win streak on Tuesday evening when the team hosts the Southern Illinois Salukis at Redbird Arena.

GAME INFORMATION
Illinois State Redbirds (9-8, 2-2 MVC) vs. Southern Illinois Salukis (9-8, 2-2 MVC)
When: Tuesday, Jan. 15
Tip-Off: 6 p.m.
Location: Normal, Ill.
Arena: Doug Collins Court at Redbird Arena
TV: CBS Sports Network
    Jason Horowitz, play-by-play
    Tim Doyle, analyst
Radio: WJBC (AM 1230 / FM 93.7) / TuneIn Radio
    Dick Luedke, play-by-play
    Mike Matthews, analyst
Live Stats: Illinois State Statbroadcast

SETTING THE TABLE

•    Illinois State is 8-0 this season when leading at halftime. 
•    Illinois State has six games this season on a Tuesday, the second-most on the day in program history.
•    Phil Fayne stands 41st in program history in career points with 1,031. Vince Greene stands 14 points ahead of Fayne in 40th place. 
•    Illinois State's 131-88 record since 2012-13 is the best record in the state of Illinois during that span, six games ahead of the second team on the list.
•    Illinois State senior Milik Yarbrough was named as one of 50 student-athletes named to the Lou Henson Award mid-season watch list, given to the nation's top mid-major basketball player. 
•    Illinois State's seven-game overtime win streak is the second-longest such win streak in the country, behind only Marquette's 10 consecutive overtime wins. 
•    Milik Yarbrough is one of five student-athletes in the country to rank inside of his conference's top five in points, rebounds, and assists.
•    Illinois State is 7-2 at home this season, and 83-22 since 2012-13 on its home court.
•    Phil Fayne's career scoring average of .586 which ranks 29th among active players in NCAA Division I.
•    Dan Muller has the ninth-most wins among head coaches who are leading their alma maters. 
•    Over the last three seasons, ISU is 23-7 in games that have the score within five points, and are 44-25 in such games in Dan Muller's tenure.
•    Dan Muller was named to the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame Silver Anniversary Team.
•    Keyshawn Evans ranks seventh in school history in career three-pointers made (167) and attempted (442).
•    Milik Yarbrough is one of 17 student-athletes in NCAA Division I basketball since 1992-93 to average at least 16.8 points, 8.2 rebounds, and 3.8 assists per game in a season.
•    Illinois State is 22-12 all-time on Jan. 15.

SCOUTING THE SALUKIS

Southern Illinois heads into Normal looking to snap out of its current two-game MVC losing skid with losses at Drake and at home against Valparaiso.

In the team's most recent loss against the Crusaders, Kavion Pippen scored a game-high 23 points, while Armon Fletcher had a 13-point, 10-rebound double-double. Aaron Cook scored eight points while also dishing out a game-high six assists. 

On the year, the Salukis have five players averaging in double-figure scoring, led by Fletcher who averages 14.4 per contest. Pippen pours in 12.6 points per game while Sean Lloyd (11.2), Cook (11.0), and Eric McGill (10.9) also average in double figures. 

McGill leads the team by pulling down an average of 6.2 rebounds per game, while Cook has dished out 61 assists. Pippen and Thik Bol lead the team with 27 and 21 blocks, each, while McGill has grabbed 27 steals on the season to lead the team.
 

GOING UP ON A TUESDAY

This season Illinois State has six games that are played on Tuesdays, the second-most Tuesday games in a season in program history. The record for Tuesday games in a season came during the 1936-37 season, where the team played in seven Tuesday games. Below are the top-five most Tuesday games in a season in school history
 

BEST IN THE STATE

Over the last seven-plus seasons, there has been one NCAA Division I school in the state of Illinois to have a winning record seven times - Illinois State. During current head coach Dan Muller's tenure, the Redbirds have experienced a level of success that is unrivaled among the other 13 Division I schools within the state. ISU is 131-88 over the last six-plus seasons, and the next best program's record - Loyola - is 125-95. (as of games on Jan. 13).