CEDAR FALLS, Iowa – After winning the opening game of the MVC season by Illinois State against UNI, the Panthers – who are receiving votes in the latest AP and Coaches Polls – got their revenge on Wednesday evening, as UNI topped the Redbirds by a 71-63 final score, despite 16 points from freshman DJ Horne and 11 points from Dedric Boyd.
How it Happened
The Redbirds opened the scoring in the game with back-to-back lay-ups by Jaycee Hillsman and Keith Fisher III, and the 'Birds held onto that lead until under two minutes left in the first half. The Illinois State advantage grew to as many as nine points following a Zach Copeland three-pointer with 9:46 to play; however, a first-half-ending 18-2 run by the hosts put UNI ahead 40-33 heading into the locker room at halftime.
A Copeland three-pointer out of the gate cut the gap to four, but UNI extended its lead to 10 with 14:11 to play in the game before Taylor Bruninga made a three-pointer, followed by five straight points from Boyd to close the gap to two at 53-51. The Panthers followed by scoring the next 10 points to put the game out of reach, as an Antonio Reeves jumper with four seconds left in the game gave the game its 71-63 final score.
Key Moment
UNI close the first half on an 18-2 run to turn a nine-point deficit into a seven-point advantage heading into the locker room at halftime.
Inside the Box Score
- Horne scored a team-high 16 points, making 6-of-13 from the field and 4-of-9 from beyond the arc.
- His four three-point field goals tied his career-high, which he has accomplished three times prior.
- Horne also pulled down a career-high six rebounds, the second time this season he has led the team in the category.
- The double-figure scoring effort was his 11th double-figure scoring effort of the season.
- Boyd scored 11 points, his seventh double figure scoring game of the season.
- Boyd made 4-of-6 shots from the field and 3-of-5 from long range.
- He tied a season-high with a game-high two in the contest.
- Fisher added 10 points, making 5-of-11 shots from the field.
- He tied a career-high with three assists.
- It was his 11th game this season where he scored in double-figures.
- Illinois State's 13 three-point field goals tied a season-high, along with the season-opener against Belmont and at Drake earlier this season.
- UNI committed just five fouls in the game, the lowest number of fouls in a game against Illinois State since Loyola also committed five in the championship game of the 2018 MVC Tournament.
Stat of the Game
Illinois State did not shoot a free throw in the game for the first time since March 4, 2017 when the team did not attempt a charity stripe attempt against Southern Illinois in the semifinals of the MVC Tournament.
What's Next
Illinois State returns to Redbird Arena on Saturday, Feb. 15 when the team hosts the Valparaiso Crusaders in a 6 p.m. tip-off.
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