Spokesman-Review
National Basketball Association
BOXSCORE | RECAP
Illinois St. 96, Mississippi 93
When: 9:30 PM ET, Wednesday, March 14, 2012
Where: Tad Smith Coliseum, Oxford, Mississippi
Officials: # Pat Evans, # Brad Ferrie, # Ray Natalli
Attendance: 3010

Illinois State 96, Mississippi 93: Tyler Brown hit eight 3-pointers and scored 26 points as the visiting Redbirds held on in overtime in the opening round of the NIT.

Illinois State (21-13) finished 17 for 23 (73.9 percent) from 3-point range, setting a season high for most made 3-pointers in a game and the most by an Illinois State team in 16 years.

The Redbirds advance to meet Stanford in the second round.

Illinois State led by as many as six points in overtime, but the Rebels (20-14) pulled within 95-93 on Ladarius White’s basket with 40 seconds to go. The Rebels forced a turnover with 10.5 seconds left, but Nick Williams’ cross-court pass sailed out of bounds with 3.5 seconds left.

The Rebels trailed by 12 points with 12 minutes to go in regulation, but rallied in the closing minutes. With Mississippi training 83-81, Terrance Henry scored on a left-handed drive and drew a foul with 29 seconds to go. His free throw capped the three-point play and gave the Rebels an 84-83 lead.

Murphy Holloway blocked a shot at the other end for the Rebels, but Illinois State grabbed the rebound and Anthony Cousin was fouled by Reginald Buckner with 6.7 seconds left. Cousin hit 1 of 2 from the line to tie the game at 84.

Nic Moore added 24 points, going a perfect 6-for-6 on 3-point attempts, and finished with 10 assists for Illinois State.

White led Mississippi with 25 points, including four 3-pointers.

GAME NOTEBOOK:
Brown was 8 for 9 from 3-point range. ... The 44 first-half points were the most scored in one half by the Redbirds this season. … Illinois State scored the game’s first eight points. … Mississippi’s Jarvis Summers missed a short jumper just before the end of regulation. Summers finished with 16 points and 12 rebounds.
Top Game Performances
 
Illinois St.   Mississippi
Tyler Brown 26 Scoring LaDarius White 25
Nic Moore 10 Assists Jarvis Summers 12
Jackie Carmichael 10 Rebounds Reginald Buckner 7
Jackie Carmichael 5 Free Throws Made Terrance Henry 4
Nic Moore 2 Steals Murphy Holloway 5
Jackie Carmichael 1 Blocks Reginald Buckner 2
Team Stats Summary
 
Team Points FG% 3PM-3PA FTM-FTA Assists Rebounds Blocks Steals Turnovers
Illinois St. 96 62.7 17-23 15-23 25 24 2 4 15
Mississippi 93 48.6 10-24 13-22 22 27 4 11 9