The Illinois State Redbirds used quick surges late in the first half and early in the second period to pull away from the Missouri State Bears 69-57 in Missouri Valley Conference basketball action Wednesday night in Normal, Ill. The Redbirds claimed their 18th win of the season against seven losses and solidified their position in second place in the MVC standings as they climbed to 10-4 in league play.
 After a 9-0 Missouri State run shot the Bears from a six-point deficit into a three-point lead at 21-18 with 9:15 left in the first half, Illinois State blanked the Bears for four minutes, answered with a 12-0 run for a 30-21 lead at the 5:11 mark and never looked back. The Redbirds expanded their advantage to 13 at halftime at 39-26 and then ran that bulge to 20 points at 54-34 seven minutes into the second half.
 Missouri State lost its 11th straight game away from Hammons Student Center and slipped to 0-7 in Valley play on the road. The Bears are 12-14 in the season and 5-9 in the Valley with four league games to play.
 Illinois State hit 50 percent of its three-point attempts and 47 percent overall in building its halftime advantage. The Redbirds finished the night shooting .473 (26/55) overall as they added only one trey after intermission. The Bears shot 36 percent from the field in each half, marking the first time in four games MSU had dipped below 40 percent shooting. Illinois State had a 37-34 rebound advantage in the contest.
  ISU Sophomore Osiris Eldridge hit five treys and led all scorers with 24 points while Anthony Slack got 17 points and 10 rebounds for the Redbirds.
 Deven Mitchell and Justin Fuehrmeyer scored a dozen points each for Missouri State and Spencer Laurie added 11.
 The Bears return home for Hall of Fame Day Saturday at Hammons Student Center. The Bears entertain the University of Evansville at 7:35 p.m., following a Missouri State women’s game in the afternoon and the 34th annual induction into the Missouri State Athletics Hall of Fame to take place between the basketball games with a 4:30 p.m. induction banquet at University Plaza Hotel.
