EVANSVILLE, Ind.  – Illinois State led for over 34 minutes of game action, and had six players score at least eight points, as the Redbirds picked up their first road win of the season by a 78-70 final score in Evansville on Saturday afternoon.
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How It Happened
Matt Chastain got things going for the Redbirds as he drained a three-point basket 15 seconds into the game. The teams traded baskets back and forth for the next seven minutes, as there were four tie scores and six lead changes early in the contest. A Chastain lay-in with 12:05 to play in the opening half kicked off a 7-3 run that gave ISU a lead they would not give up for the remainder of the game. ISU's first-half lead grew to as many as 10 with 2:26 to play in the period; however, Evansville closed strong and closed the gap to five at 35-30 heading into the locker room at halftime.
The ISU lead reached as high as 14 in the second half after a Keyshawn Evans three-point basket with 10:53 to play in the game, however, Evansville would not back down in front of their home crowd of 5,731, and fought back to within as close as four, before the Redbirds iced the game at the free throw line, making 9-of-12 free throws over the final two and a half minutes to secure the eight-point road victory.
Key Moment
ISU used an 11-3 run in the middle of the second half to push a six-point advantage to 14.
Inside the Box Score
- Milik Yarbrough scored a game-high 27 points, making 11-of-19 shots from the field and 3-of-5 from long range. He also pulled down eight rebounds.
- Chastain scored a career-high 13 points, making 5-of-7 shots from the field, as he also pulled down four rebounds and added a steal.
- Six of the eight players that saw action in the game scored at least eight points for the Redbirds.
- Evans scored nine points, making 2-of-4 shots from long range, while also dishing out four assists.
- Zach Copeland tied a career-high with seven assists, while scoring eight points and pulling down two rebounds.
- William Tinsley scored nine points, making 3-of-4 from three-point range, while pulling down six rebounds.
- Phil Fayne scored eight points with seven rebounds and two blocked shots.
- Illinois State has now won the last eight meetings with Evansville.
Stat of the Game
The team's +9 rebounding margin is tied for the highest this season, equaling the margin the Redbirds had against Akron.
What's Next
Illinois State returns to action on Wednesday, Jan. 23 as the Redbirds travel to Peoria to take on the Bradley Braves in a 6 p.m. tip-off..
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