NORMAL, Ill. – Four players reached double-figure scoring as the Illinois State Redbirds overcame an early nine-point deficit and held on late for a 75-70 win over the Little Rock Trojans on Sunday afternoon to propel the Redbirds to a 2-0 record for the first time since the 2012-13 team opened the season with five consecutive victories.
How it Happened
Illinois State struck first with a lay-in from Ricky Torres; however, the visitors rattled off 12 of the next 13 points to take a nine-point, 12-3 lead with 15:16 to play in the opening half. The Redbirds fought back and took its lead back, leading by as many as four at halftime with a 30-26 margin after 20 minutes.
The second half saw the lead change hands eight times, including the Redbirds running off a 13-2 run to turn a one-point, 50-49 deficit into a 10-points, 62-52 advantage. Little Rock immediately answered with a 14-2 run to take its last lead of the game. Nine straight Illinois State points followed, as the hosts secured the five-point victory.
Key Moment
Immediately after Little Rock guard Markquis Nowell gave Little Rock – who beat MVC favorite Missouri State to open the season – the lead with 3:38 to play in the game, the Redbirds got a three-point jumper by Zach Copeland starting off ISU's nine-point run and the victory.
Inside the Box Score
- For the second consecutive game, senior guard Copeland flirted with a career-high, this time scoring 19 points on 6-of-9 shooting from the field while adding four assists and two steals.
- Dedric Boyd scored an Illinois State-career high 14 points, making 4-of-6 shots from long range and both of his free throw tries.
- For the second consecutive game Rey Idowu set a career-high for scoring, going for a dozen points and a team-high six rebounds.
- Jaycee Hillsman scored 12 points, including going a perfect 6-for-6 at the charity stripe.
- Ricky Torres dished out a game-high six assists and had no turnovers while scoring seven points with four rebounds.
Stat of the Game
Illinois State went 6-of-8 from long range in the second half of the game, and through two games of the season the Redbirds are 15-of-21 from beyond the arc in the second half.
What's Next
Illinois State continues its three-game season-opening homestand when the Redbirds play host to the UCF Knights in a 1 p.m. tip-off at Redbird Arena.
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