NORMAL — Illinois State took a 24-point lead in the first half and cruised past Indiana State, 78-50, in a Missouri Valley Conference basketball game Wednesday night before a Redbird Arena crowd of 4,456.
Paris Lee scored 18 points to pace the Redbirds (17-11, 11-4) to their fifth straight win and eighth in the last nine games. MiKyle McIntosh added 14 points while DeVaughn Akoon-Purcell had 12 and Deontae Hawkins 10. It was ISU's biggest victory margin of the season.
The Redbirds, who enjoyed a 44-23 halftime lead, pushed their advantage as high as 29 at 77-48 late in the second half.