CARBONDALE, Ill. – The Illinois State Redbirds made just 8-of-23 shots in the first half and none of their 10 long-range tries, as the team was unable to overcome a 10-point halftime deficit in a 67-55 loss to open the 2020 calendar year.
How it Happened
The Redbirds jumped out quickly, with a basket by DJ Horne in the game's first possession, and a Zach Copeland jumper pushed ISU back ahead at 4-2 with 18:02 to play over the opening 20 minutes. The Redbird offense hit a cold spell and would not be able to reach the scoreboard until Rey Idowu snapped the four-and-a-half-minute scoreless streak with a pair of free throws as SIU had run off seven consecutive points. The Idowu free throws and a Copeland basket closed the deficit to one at 9-8 before SIU ran off nine consecutive points and closed the half with a 29-19 lead.
A Keith Fisher III put-back lay-up a little bit less than a minute into the second half cut the gap to eight, before the Salukis ran off an 11-2 run to push ahead by 17. The margin reached as high as 20 halfway through the second half; however, the Redbirds would not back down, using a Jaycee Hillsman three-point play to kick off an 11-3 run to cut the gap to 13, and a Copeland three-point took the margin to 10, but that would be as close as the Redbirds would come in the 12-point loss.
Key Moment
After Illinois State closed the gap to nine early in the second half, SIU freshman Marcus Domask had a lay-up and back-to-back three-pointers, as the single-player 8-0 run took the margin to 17 with 14:25 to play in the game.
Inside the Box Score
- Hillsman scored a team-high 13 points in the loss – all in the second half, hitting 3-of-7 shots from the field and all seven of his free throw tries.
- Horne reached double-figures for a second consecutive game with 11 points on 4-of-6 shooting overall, while making 2-of-4 from long range.
- Copeland reached double-figures with 10 points while pulling down a pair of rebounds.
- Ricky Torres dished out a team-high three assists.
- Illinois State made just 2-of-17 (11.8 percent) from long range, but converted on 13-of-18 (72.7 percent) from the charity stripe.
Stat of the Game
Each of Hillsman's team-high 13 points came in the second half, as he was perfect on his seven free throw tries.
What's Next
Illinois State returns home on Tuesday, Jan. 7, when the team hosts the Missouri State Bears in a 7 p.m. tip-off at Redbird Arena.
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