NORMAL, Ill. – The Illinois State Redbirds were not able to rebound from an early deficit despite a pair of double-digit runs, falling to the Valparaiso Crusaders 69-53, as the visitors made 50.9 percent of their shots for the game.
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How It Happened
Valparaiso came out firing on all cylinders, scoring the first 14 points of the game. The Crusader first-half lead grew to as many as 17 as late as 11:12 (25-8) to play in the half before the Redbirds went on a run, scoring 13 straight points to climb back within four just over four minutes later at 25-21. The Illinois State offense that caught fire in the middle of the half went quiet as Valparaiso pushed back ahead and took a 17-point, 41-24 lead into the locker room at halftime.
A Derrik Smits jumper with 16:47 to play in the game gave Valparaiso its largest lead of the game at 51-27 to cap a 26-6 run. Trailing by 23 at 56-33, Illinois State ran off 15 consecutive points, closing the gap to eight over the next seven minutes. The deficit reached as few as seven points following a Zach Copeland three-pointer with 4:25 to play. That would be as close as ISU would come, as Valparaiso closed the game on an 11-2 run to give the game its 16-point final margin.
Key Moment
Illinois State had two double-digit runs, a 13-0 run in the first half and 15-0 in the second half.
Inside the Box Score
- Copeland scored a team-high 17 points, making 5-of-10 shots from the field and 4-of-7 from beyond the arc. He also dished out three assists with three steals.
- Milik Yarbrough scored nine points with a team-high five rebounds.
- Phil Fayne scored eight points with a pair of rebounds.
Stat of the Game
Illinois State's 53 points are the fewest the team has scored in a game this season.
What's Next
Illinois State will look to rebound on Sunday, Feb. 10, when the team travels to Springfield, Missouri, to take on the Missouri State Bears in a 3 p.m. tip-off.
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