Men's Basketball Hosts UNI in Mid-Week Battle

NORMAL, Ill. - After a 12-point win over Evansville on Saturday, the Illinois State Redbirds remain at home and host the UNI Panthers in each program's third MVC contest of the season.

GAME INFORMATION
Illinois State Redbirds (8-7, 1-1 MVC) vs. UNI Panthers (6-9, 1-1 MVC)
When: Tuesday, Jan. 8
Tip-Off: 7 p.m.
Location: Normal, Ill.
Arena: Doug Collins Court at Redbird Arena
TV: NBC Sports Chicago
    Kurt Pegler, play-by-play
    Bob Morris, analyst
Radio: Illinois State Radio Network / TuneIn Radio
    Dick Luedke, play-by-play
    Mike Matthews, analyst
Live Stats: Illinois State Statbroadcast

SETTING THE TABLE

•    Illinois State is 7-0 this season when leading at halftime. 
•    Through two MVC games this season, ISU has given up a combined 104 points, which is the second-lowest such total in the Redbirds' 38th season in the Conference. 
•    Illinois State has six games this season on a Tuesday, the second-most on the day in program history. 
•    ISU had an assist-to-turnover margin of +10 against Evansville, just the fourth time in head coach Dan Muller's tenure that one of his teams had double-digit margin in a MVC game.
•    Illinois State is 82-22 inside Redbird Arena during head coach Dan Muller's tenure, including a 6-2 mark this season. 
•    Illinois State has won its last seven overtime games, which stands as the second-longest currently-active overtime win streak in the country. 
•    Against Evansville on Jan. 5, ISU senior Phil Fayne became the 44th member of the program's 1,000-point club. He currently is three points away from moving into sole possession of 43rd place on the list. 
•    ISU senior Milik Yarbrough is one of 22 men's basketball student-athletes sinc 1992-93 to average at least 16.3 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 3.9 assists in a season.
•    Yarbrough is also one of just five active men's basketball student-athletes to rank inside of his conference/league's top five in points, rebounds, and assists. 
•    Illinois State has the best record in the state of Illinois since 2012-13 with a 130-87 overall record, six more wins than the second team on the list. 
•    Illinois State is one of three schools in NCAA Division I to have two of their four coaches to have won National Titles during their time as student-athletes at their respective schools. 
•    In each of the last five seasons, the Redbirds have out-performed their preseason conference predictions, including last season in which the squad was picked fourth and finished third. 
•    ISU head coach Dan Muller has the ninth-most career wins among coaches that are leading their alma maters.
•    Illinois State is 17-14 all-time on January 8.

SCOUTING THE PANTHERS

UNI has split its two MVC games this season, winning on the road at Bradley before falling at home to Southern Illinois.

Against the Salukis, A.J. Green scored a team-best 16 points, making 6-of-16 shots from the field, while leading the team with four assists. Trae Berhow also scored in double-digits with 11, while pulling down 11 rebounds for the double-double - the first of his UNI career. Miles Wentzien also pulled down double-digit rebounds with 10, while scoring four points over 26 minutes of action. 

This season Green is the only player on the squad averaging in double-figures at 14.9 points per game; however, four others are putting in at least seven points per game including Wyatt Lohaus (9.6), Berhow (8.2), Isaiah Brown (7.5), and McDonnell (7.1). 

Berhow leads the team in rebounding, pulling down 6.5 per game, as Green gives out 2.3 assists per game to lead the Panthers. 

GETTING DEFENSIVE IN THE MVC

Through two Missouri Valley Conference games this season, the Redbirds have given up a combined 104 points (58 at Valparaiso, and 46 against Evansville). That is the second-lowest total by an ISU program through two games in the Redbirds' 38th season in the conference. The school record for fewest points allowed through the first three conference games is 155, as the Redbirds will need to allow 41 points or fewer against UNI to accomplish the feat.

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

BIG RATIO

Against Evansville on Jan. 5, Illinois State had a +10 margin between assists and turnovers in a game. That +10 margin was just the 10th occurrence  during head coach Dan Muller's tenure, and just the fourth time it has happened in MVC play for Muller.