January 29 at Ford Center in Evansville, IN
espn3.com
Illinois State hasn't reached the NCAA Tournament since the 1997-1998 team, under current Pittsburgh head coach Kevin Stallings, won the Missouri Valley and reached the Round of 32.
That long tournament drought could be coming to an end this year as the Redbirds remained perfect in league play (10-0) with Sunday's 69-59 victory.
It's the best start in Valley play in program history.
The starting front court of sophomore Phil Fayne and senior Deontae Hawkins was excellent, combining for 27 points and 18 rebounds and 68 percent (11-of-16) shooting from the field.
* Daouda Ndiaye did a little bit of everything, good and bad, for the visitors. The 7-0 sophomore center blocked a career-high six shots, but also had three turnovers and committed four fouls in just 14 minutes.
* Jaylon Brown (17 points, 7-of-16 FG) and David Howard (16, 6-of-7) showed up for Evansville, but the rest of the team did not (9-of-34). After winning 24 and 25 games, respectively the last two seasons and starting this season 9-4, things have turned in the wrong direction for the Purple Aces. Sunday's loss was the ninth in 10 games with the only win during that stretch coming on New Years day against Northern Iowa.
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