NORMAL, Ill. – After four straight games of shooting over 45 percent from the field, the Illinois State offense went cold, making just 34 percent of its shots against Jackson State, while the Tigers converted on 8-of-13 shots from long range, as JSU left Redbird Arena with a 61-55 victory.
The Tigers – who are eight games into a 13-game season-opening road swing – made 21-of-52 shots from the field; however, made a season-high 8-of-13 (61.5%) three-point shots. The Redbirds were 4-of-21 from long range, including 1-of-13 in the second half.
Antonio Reeves scored a game-high 14 points, while Howard Fleming Jr. tied his career-high with 10 points. For a second time in three games forward Ryan Schmitt set a new career-high, going for nine points with four rebounds and two blocked shots.
The game featured 12 lead changes and 10 tie scores, half of those coming in the opening period. The Redbird offense started well, and ISU led 13-6 six and a half minutes into the game; however, Jackson State ran off 10 straight points to re-take the lead. ISU grabbed the lead back late in the first half; however, the Tigers took a 32-30 lead into the locker room at halftime.
After a JSU free throw to open the second half, the Redbirds ran off eight straight points – the first seven from Howard Fleming – putting the Redbirds ahead by five with 15:16 to play in the final period. In the middle of the second half the lead changed hands five times over a six-minute span, the last time when JSU used a 7-0 run to push ahead to a six-point lead. The Redbirds twice trimmed the margin to four but could not complete the comeback in the six-point loss.
Jackson State was led by Ken Evans and Chance Moore, who each scored 13 points, while Jonas James added 11 points.
Sy Chatman had a team-high four blocked shots for ISU in the game, while scoring six points and pulling down three rebounds. Kendall Lewis led the Redbirds with six rebounds, while scoring eight points and adding an assist. Mark Freeman gave out a team-high four assists while picking up a game-high four steals.
Illinois State returns to action in a week on Saturday, December 11, when the team travels north to face off against the Chicago State Cougars in a 2 p.m. tip-off at the Emil & Patricia A. Jones Convocation Center.
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