NORMAL, Ill. – Behind his first career double-double with 21 points and 10 rebounds, Antonio Reeves helped pace the Illinois State Redbirds to their fourth consecutive victory, an 81-64 win over the UTSA Roadrunners inside Redbird Arena on Tuesday afternoon.
It was also ISU's fourth consecutive game scoring at least 80 points, as the hosts made 55 percent of their shots in the game (33-of-60) and 39 percent (9-of-23) from long range. Reeves got his 21 points behind 9-of-14 shooting, including going 3-of-7 from long range. The 10 rebounds top his previous career-high of seven, as he also gave out a season-high four assists in the win.
The Redbirds take eight days between games for the Holidays, before returning to action on Wednesday, December 29 when the squad takes on the nationally ranked Wisconsin Badgers in a 7 p.m. tip-off at the Kohl Center.
Sy Chatman made eight of his 11 shots from the field, scoring 17 points, as Josiah Strong scored 12 points and Mark Freeman 10. Freeman dished out a season-high eight assists while adding two steals. Howard Fleming Jr. flirted with a double-double with eight points and eight rebounds.
The lead changed hands three times over the first seven minutes, a pair of Strong three-pointers turned a one-point Roadrunner lead into a five-point Redbird advantage, one that would last for the remainder of the game. The first half lead grew to as many as 12 points, and settled at 11, 39-28, at the halftime break.
The Redbirds came out of the locker room with an 8-2 run and the second half lead grew to as many as 23 after a 13-0 ISU run, with the hosts cruising to the 17-point win.
The Redbirds gave out a season-high 21 assists against 15 turnovers, and out-rebounded UTSA 40-to-36 in the contest.
UTSA was led by Jacob Germany who scored 17 points while Dhieu Deing scored 14 and Christian Tucker 12.
GoRedbirds.com and the Illinois State Redbirds App: Your sources for Illinois State tickets, Weisbecker Scholarship Fund gifts, multimedia, Redbird merchandise, photos and more.
