Illinois State beats Evansville 71-67 to advance in MVC

ST. LOUIS, Mo. (AP) Deontae Hawkins made four 3-pointers and scored 17 to points to help fourth-seeded Illinois State defeat fifth-seeded Evansville 71-67 on Friday in the Missouri Valley Conference tournament quarterfinals.

Up next on Saturday for the Redbirds (20-11) is top-seeded and No. 8-ranked Wichita State, which defeated Southern Illinois 56-45 earlier Friday.

D.J. Balentine scored 17 points to lead Evansville (19-12).

Evansville shot 59 percent in taking a 37-31 halftime lead but went 2 of 12 over the first 10 minutes of the second half while the Redbirds went on a 19-7 run to lead 50-44.

A three-point play by Egidijus Mockevicius gave Evansville a one-point lead before a basket by Reggie Lynch and a Hawkins 3-pointer put ISU up for good at 66-62 with 2:18 left.

Evansville was within two with 16 seconds remaining but the Redbirds' Paris Lee made two free throws and Evansville missed its final two shots.