NORMAL, Ill. (AP) — Tony Lewis scored 15 points to lead Illinois State to its first Missouri Valley Conference victory of the season, 59-55 over Southern Illinois on Sunday night.
Austin Hill added 11 points and Trey Blue scored 10 for the Redbirds (9-11, 1-8).
Carlton Fay scored 15 points for Southern Illinois (10-10, 4-5), 13 in the second half. But with the Salukis trailing 56-54 with 1:09 left, Fay missed two of three free throws after he was fouled attempting a 3-pointer. He also was called for traveling with 23.5 seconds remaining.
Lewis, who had eight rebounds, went 3 for 4 from the foul line in the final 21.7 to seal the win.
Southern Illinois raced to a 13-2 lead, but Illinois State chipped away and eventually took a 30-29 edge into the break after Anthony Cousin made two free throws with 4.1 seconds left in the half.
