Baby Birds Growing Up

(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.

Do Good