(Normal, IL) – Illinois State’s basketball season came to a screeching and heart-breaking end Monday night. The Redbirds (28-7) built an 18 point first half lead, but fell to Central Florida 63-62. ISU held the lead from the opening tip until there was 1:40 left in the game, when UCF took a 61-60 lead.
Redbird fans thought the game was in the bag when ISU was making eight first half three-point shots and led by 13 at intermission. But foul trouble and a cold shooting second half opened the door for a Knights’ (23-11) comeback.
MiKyle Macintosh’s two free throws with four seconds left seemed to win the game at 62-61, but a McIntosh foul with just over one second left set up the winning charity tosses by BJ Taylor.
UCF head coach Johnny Dawkins and ISU’s Muller demonstrated the joy and the agony of a last second game. The Knights move on the National Invitation Tournament quarterfinals against Illinois, and the Redbirds’ season has come to an emotional end.
The loss ended a 22-game home winning streak, despite the raucous support of 7,984 fans inside a noisy RedBird Arena. It also ended the four year run of seniors Paris Lee, Tony Wills, Deontae Hawkins and Javaka Thompson. The four years of their eligibility witnessed 86 wins, and this year’s record is the best in ISU history.
Hawkins scored 15 points in Monday’s game and surpassed the 1,000 point mark.
The emotional ending of college basketball seasons, is what reminds us of why we love this game. It is blood, sweat, tears and brotherhood. Muller admitted his team had a great season, but he couldn’t even think about their accomplishments, because of the pain of knowing there was nothing left of this season.
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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
