Normal, IL (Sports Network) - Johnny Hill scored a game-high 18 points as the
Illinois State Redbirds held off the Indiana State Sycamores, 60-58, in a
Missouri Valley Conference bout at Redbird Arena.
Also scoring in double figures for the Redbirds (11-9, 2-6 MVC) was Jackie
Carmichael with 16 points, to go along with nine rebounds and three blocked
shots, as the team won a second straight outing.
The Sycamores (12-7, 5-3) were paced by Manny Arop with 13 points, while R.J.
Mahurin and Jake Odum both responded with nine points as the team had a brief
two-game win streak snapped.
Illinois State shot just 38.7 percent from the floor in the first half and
missed all nine chances behind the 3-point line in the frame, but still
managed to put up a 29-26 lead at the break. The Sycamores missed all six of
their free-throw tries through the first 20 minutes of action.
In the second half both programs converted less than 37 percent from the field
and again the Redbirds came up empty on the perimeter (0-of-4), but the home
team did add 13 points at the free-throw line in the period.
Indiana State had a chance to pull out the win, but a 3-point attempt at the
buzzer missed the mark, leaving the visitors with the two-point setback.
In a game that featured 11 ties and 10 lead changes, the hosts outscored
Indiana State at the charity stripe, 18-7.
GAME NOTES:
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