NORMAL,Ill.—After a five game losing streak the Birds break the curse and prevail against the Indiana Sycamores.
In the first half the Birds were in an eight point lead over Indiana State. Antonio Reeves put up two free throws helping them get to 44-36.
The Birds succeeded in stopping guard Cooper Neese after he scored three points. Coach Brian Jones said that his team had a game plan to block Neese.
“Discipline. Game one he shot fakes to start and end drives. We put him to the foul line,” said Jones.
Illinois State was led by Antonio Reeves with 28 points and six rebounds. Howard Fleming Jr. followed him with 20 points and three rebounds. Mark Freeman added seventeen points and two rebounds for the Redbirds as well.
Reeves is the eighth player in program history to reach the 600-point plateau—standing at 627 points this season.
The Redbirds made 34-of-63 of its shots in the game. Illinois State won 86-66 leaving Indiana State twenty points behind.
Illinois State will start the Missouri Valley Conference tournament on March 3rd where they will take on the Indians Sycamores again.