ST. LOUIS — Antonio Reeves scored 15 points as Illinois State overcame a 10-point second-half deficit to edge Indiana State, 58-53, in a Missouri Valley Conference Tournament play-in game Thursday at Enterprise Center.
Josiah Strong added 13 points as the Redbirds improved to 13-19. ISU faces No. 1-seed and regular-season champion Northern Iowa in a quarterfinal final at noon Friday.
Indiana State (11-20), the No. 9 seed, was led by Zach Hobbs and Kailex Stephens with 12 points each.
ISU trailed by five at halftime before a 10-0 run, capped by Stephens' layup, gave Indiana State the game's biggest lead at 43-33 with 11:43 left.