Redbirds bounce back over Zips at Cayman Islands Classic

Posted on November 20, 2018
Dan Muller
Illinois State coach Dan Muller and his Redbirds play in the consolation championship of the Cayman Islands Classic at 12:30 p.m. Central Wednesday. (GoRedbirds.com)

By Greg Halbleib

GEORGETOWN, Grand Cayman Islands – Illinois State men’s basketball started slow on Monday and lost, then started fast on Tuesday for a 73-68 win over Akron in the second round of the Cayman Islands Classic.

Illinois State (3-2) faces Boise State or St. Bonaventure in the consolation championship at 12:30 p.m. Central Wednesday. Pre-game on AM 1230, 93.7 Nash Icon, WJBC.com and the TuneIn app begins at 11:30.

The Redbirds jumped out to a 13-point lead late in the first half as Akron missed its first 16 three-pointers before the Zips heated up to close the halftime gap to 37-32. Akron (3-2) took a lead early in the second half before the Redbirds’ defense took over.

Illinois State coach Dan Muller credited a better approach by the Redbirds for the victory.

“I thought we played more together, and we competed harder,” Muller said. “I told them at half, I said, ‘Did that feel better? Is that more fun?’ They said, yeah, it’s more fun. Just go out there and compete, don’t worry about anything else other than being there for your teammate. That’s what we did today.”

Josh Jefferson led Redbird scorers with 19 points while Phil Fayne added 18 points while pulling down nine rebounds. Milik Yarbrough recorded 12 points and 16 rebounds and Zach Copeland registered 11 points. For Akron, Jimond Ivey led with 16 points followed by Loren Crist Jackson with 15 and Daniel Utomi with 11.

Greg Halbleib can be reached at [email protected]. 

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