NORMAL — When Illinois State finished the first half on a 10-0 run to seize a 17-point halftime lead Saturday night, the Redbird Arena crowd of 4,529 was on its feet.
Then 15 members of the school's 1,000-point club, led by Doug Collins, were introduced at halftime on Retro Night. The cheers got even louder.
When the second half came, though, Javon Freeman-Liberty and Valparaiso ruined the mood.
Freeman-Liberty scored 19 of his 25 points after the intermission. That included the game's final six points, two off his five steals, as the Crusaders stunned ISU, 65-62.