Illinois State will host UNLV as part of the Mountain West-Missouri Valley Conference Challenge on Wednesday, December 1, on Doug Collins Court at Redbird Arena. The game tips off at 7:05 p.m.
This is an excerpt from the Las Vegas Sun, following the game:
“Illinois State cashed in on eight consecutive one-and-one free throws in the final three minutes Thursday night to upset third-ranked UNLV, 88-84, and end the Rebels 14-game winning streak.
This will be UNLV’s first trip to Normal since February 4, 1977, when the Redbirds knocked off the then-ranked No. 3 Running Rebels, 88-84. The game remains one of the most memorable contests in Illinois State history.
The Redbirds, now 16-6 led from start to finish in handing UNLV only its second loss in 19 games. But it took pressure-packed foul shots by freshmen Ron Jones and Del Yarbrough and sophomores Derrick Mayes and Rick Ferina to hold off a late Rebel rally.
Cheered on by a rabid sellout crowd of 8,000 at Horton Fieldhouse, Illinois State led by as many as 14 in the first half before settling for a 47-36 halftime lead and then built up a 10-point lead with 3:55 remaining before the Rebels made their final, futile comeback.
It looked like several times UNLV was going to pull another one out of the hat, as they had done two nights ago in a 107-106 thriller against Bradley. But this time it was the younger Redbirds who kept their poise and made all the clutch plays.”
Hopefully Wednesday’s game will be just as memorable, as a young Redbird squad faces a UNLV team that advanced to the 2010 NCAA Tournament. Tickets for this game may be purchased at the Redbird Arena Ticket Office by calling (309) 438-8000, or online at GoRedbirds.com.
