(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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ICYMI: Semifinal # 2 today at #ArchMadness will feature a contrast of styles as # 5 @UIC_MBB faces # 4 @RacersHoops in the 2:30 game.
It's final: @UNImbb 68 @UEAthletics_MBB 59. The Panthers get @Redbird_MBB on Friday night. Campbell finishes with 23 points. Smith with a double-double. AJ Casey was great with 23 & 10. Panthers with 16 assists.
4:05 left: @UNImbb 57 @UEAthletics_MBB 54. Aces' ball. UNI upside? Campbell with 21 points. Down side - Bond 0/6 from deep. UE upside? Casey with 20 & 9. Down Side? 2/11 from deep in the second half. Anybody's game at #ArchMadness
7:25 left: @UNImbb 55 @UEAthletics_MBB 52. Trey Campbell with 21 points for the Panthers and AJ Casey with 18 for the Aces. Tristan Smith is such a game changer. He has 8 pts & 9 rebounds, but that doesn't tell the story. #ArchMadness
