Recap: Illinois State vs. Indiana State

Normal, IL (Sports Network) - Johnny Hill scored a game-high 18 points as the Illinois State Redbirds held off the Indiana State Sycamores, 60-58, in a Missouri Valley Conference bout at Redbird Arena.

Also scoring in double figures for the Redbirds (11-9, 2-6 MVC) was Jackie Carmichael with 16 points, to go along with nine rebounds and three blocked shots, as the team won a second straight outing.

The Sycamores (12-7, 5-3) were paced by Manny Arop with 13 points, while R.J. Mahurin and Jake Odum both responded with nine points as the team had a brief two-game win streak snapped.

Illinois State shot just 38.7 percent from the floor in the first half and missed all nine chances behind the 3-point line in the frame, but still managed to put up a 29-26 lead at the break. The Sycamores missed all six of their free-throw tries through the first 20 minutes of action.

In the second half both programs converted less than 37 percent from the field and again the Redbirds came up empty on the perimeter (0-of-4), but the home team did add 13 points at the free-throw line in the period.

Indiana State had a chance to pull out the win, but a 3-point attempt at the buzzer missed the mark, leaving the visitors with the two-point setback.

In a game that featured 11 ties and 10 lead changes, the hosts outscored Indiana State at the charity stripe, 18-7.