(St. Louis, MO) – Illinois State is still playing and the young Redbirds are growing up before our eyes. Their 62-55 win over Texas A & M in the College Basketball Insider tournament is the latest piece of evidence for one of the nation’s youngest teams.
Their veteran leader, junior Daishon Knight led the way with 17 points, but the freshman center Reggie Lynch was a significant force. Lynch scored nine points, grabbed five rebounds and the Missouri Valley Conference’s leader in blocked shots swatted six of them back at the Aggies. Lynch has recorded 91 blocks which is one behind Benoit Benjamin’s freshman league record. Benjamin collected his 92 rejections for Creighton in the 1982-83 season.
Knight and fellow junior John Jones were the only to Birds to reach double figures in scoring. Jones is slowly coming back from injury and was limited to 14 minutes and jammed 12 points and four rebounds into his appearance. Knight, an honorable mention all MVC player, also led the team in rebounds with nine.
ISU improves their record to 18 – 15 and they move into the semifinals of the CBI. Texas A & M finishes at 18 – 16. The Redbirds join Sienna and Old Dominion as three of the CBI’s final four teams.
The MVC is now 3 and 3 in post season play and finishes the season winning four of seven games against the SEC. The CBI semifinal games will be played Wednesday.
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Three more road wins so far in @ValleyHoops as @BradleyUMBB @BelmontMBB & @UIC_MBB capture road wins. Looks like @DrakeBulldogsMB will do so too. #FatherHarry
Well @RacersWBB followed the men's example and swept Iowa in the @ValleyHoops race! Racers are 6-1 & if @BelmontWBB holds on to their Iowa sweep, the Bruins and Racers will be tied for first. What a trip for those two teams! #FatherHarry
After today's action, @EIUWBB is 8-0 in @OVCSports play. 4 teams @usiwbb @TTUWBB @LRTrojans @LindenwoodWBB are tied at 6-2. Six other teams are under .500. Great race to the finish lies ahead. #FatherHarry
Really entertaining game between @BelmontMBB & @UEAthletics_MBB. Under four minutes left in a one point game. Gabriel Pozzato back in the Aces' lineup. Rogers is playing like I've expected. Triples are dropping. It's fun and @kylejpeach bringing it on #ThePlus #FatherHarry
