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Illinois State upsets No. 25 Dayton

Dec 8, 2013 - 4:16 AM Normal, IL (SportsNetwork.com) - Daishon Knight had 20 points and pulled down six rebounds as Illinois State slipped past No. 25 Dayton, 81-75.

Bobby Hunter scored 16 points and had five steals, while Zach Lofton gave 13 points for the Redbirds (5-4), who have won their past four games.

Vee Sanford scored 14 points with five rebounds and Jordan Sibert had 13 points and six boards for the Flyers (7-2), who had won their previous two.

Illinois State scored the first six points of this game as the team never trailed in the first half.

A 3-pointer from Lofton 6 1/2 minutes in staked the team to a 15-8 lead, and he completed a 3-point play later in the first half for a 27-18 lead with just over six minutes to play.

Taking a 39-32 lead into the break, Knight hit a 3-pointer to start the second half for Illinois State, but Dayton made a move later in the half.

Four straight 3-pointers by the Flyers gave them a 50-48 lead with under 13 minutes to play after a Sanford trey.

The lead was short-lived, though, as Lofton followed with a bucket and Nick Zeisloft hit a three to give the Redbirds the lead back.

The Flyers later trailed by one, 56-55, after a Scoochie Smith jumper with 9 1/2 minutes to play, but Illinois State scored the next six points to create some distance.

Following a bucket from Jalen Robinson, Illinois State scored the next seven points with Hunter's two free throws with six minutes to play giving the team a 69-57 lead.

Dayton didn't get any closer than six the rest of the way as Illinois State secured the minor upset.

Game Notes

Illinois State has off until Dec. 16 when it will play in Oakland ... Dayton plays next Saturday against Central Michigan ... Dayton still leads the series, 4-3.