NORMAL, Ill. – Zach Copeland drained a three-point basket with 8.6 seconds left in the game to close off a game-ending 11-0 Illinois State run, as the Redbirds secured a 67-66 non-conference win over UIC on Wednesday evening.
How it Happened
Illinois State got baskets by Ricky Torres and Copeland out of the gate to jump ahead 4-0, as ISU never trailed over the opening 20 minutes of action. The margin reached as many as many as 10 points on a Rey Idowu free throw, before the visitors closed the half strong, closing the gap to two at 30-28 heading into the locker room at halftime.
The Redbirds pushed their second-half lead to as many as six with 15:11 to play in the contest, before the visitors ran off eight straight points to take their first lead of the game at 44-42 with 12:35 to play in the contest. The lead changed hands eight times over the next five minutes before an 8-0 UIC run pushed the Flames ahead by 10 at 66-56 with 3:51 to play in the game. An Antonio Reeves jumper with 3:31 to play in the game started an 11-0 run that culminated with Copeland's jump shot before the Flames were only able to get off a desperation attempt as time expired.
Key Moment
Copeland got the ball, dribbled to the middle of the court, pump faked and drained the eventual game-winning three-pointer with 8.6 seconds remaining on the clock to improve Illinois State to 5-6 on the season.
Inside the Box Score
- Keith Fisher scored a season-high 16 points while pulling down a career-best 14 rebounds in the game. He made 6-of-7 shots from the field, and 4-of-5 from the charity stripe.
- Idowu had a career-high scoring game for the second consecutive game, scoring 16 points on 6-of-10 shooting while making 4-of-6 shots from the charity stripe and pulling down seven rebounds.
- Copeland scored 12 points in the win with five assists and a trio of steals.
- Reeves scored nine points, seven in the second half and four during the deciding game-ending streak, while making 2-of-3 shots from the floor and 5-of-6 from the free throw line.
- Ricky Torres dished out five assists against just three turnovers while scoring two points with three rebounds.
- Illinois State out-rebounded UIC 36-to-35, the seventh time this season the Redbirds out-rebounded its opponent, while out-scoring UIC's bench 21-to-19, the 10th time this season the 'Birds had more bench points.
Stat of the Game
Illinois State made 17-of-24 free throws in the game, tied for the most free throw makes in a game this season, as the 'Birds also went 17-of-24 in the team's win over Little Rock on Nov. 10.
What's Next
Illinois State goes on the road to take on the UTSA Roadrunners in a 3 p.m. tip-off at the Convocation Center in San Antonio.
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