Illinois State closed the first half on a 9-2 run and streaked out to a 13-3 run out of the gate to the second half, as the 22-5 run propelled the Redbirds to a 69-55 win on a cold Wednesday evening in Iowa.
How It Happened
The host Drake bulldogs jumped out to a quick start in the game, leading 12-4, five minutes into the contest, the Bulldogs' largest lead of the first half. The Redbirds started chipping away at the deficit and knotted the score at 19 on a Zach Copeland three-point basket with 7:13 on the first half clock. ISU's first lead came with 2:54 to play on a Phil Fayne lay-in. The lead grew to as many as four, as the Redbird took a 32-28 lead into the locker room at halftime.
Illinois State came out firing from the locker room at halftime, and kept its foot to the gas pedal, leading by as many as 23 in the second stanza, as Fayne scored 16 of his 22 points in the second half as the Redbirds claimed the 14-point win.
Key Moment
Illinois State grabbed all of the momentum out of the locker room and a 13-3 run pushed ISU to a 14-point lead that ISU would not give up for the remainder of the game.
Inside the Box Score
- Fayne scored a game-high 22 points, including 16 in the second half, making 11-of-16 shots from the field. He also added five rebounds and two blocked shots.
- Copeland scored 19 points, making 6-of-11 shots from the field and 4-of-7 from long range. He also dished out two assists and grabbed three rebounds.
- Milik Yarbrough scored 17 points in the win with game-highs of nine rebounds and five assists. He also had a blocked shot and made half of his four three-point attempts.
- Keyshawn Evans scored 11 points, hitting 3-of-6 from long range with a rebound in 30 minutes of action.
- Illinois State out-rebounded Drake 34-to-28 in the game.
Stat of the Game
Illinois State made at least half of its shots for a second consecutive game, and third time over the last four contests.
What's Next
Illinois State returns to action on Saturday night, Feb. 2, when the Redbirds host the defending MVC champions Loyola Chicago in a 9 p.m. tip-off on Doug Collins Court at Redbird Arena.
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