SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (AP) -- Blake Ahearn had 17 points and made his
54th straight free throw as Southwest Missouri State beat Illinois
State 69-57 Saturday night.
Ahearn, who had eight free throws, broke the 5-year-old Missouri
Valley Conference record of 48 consecutive free throws in the first
half.
The Bears (15-8, 7-5 MVC) opened the second half cold, making
just one field goal in the first 6:54 and only three in the first
10 minutes. But Ahearn made four straight free throws in the early
part of the half to keep Illinois State (6-14, 2-10) from closing
in.
The Redbirds went nearly five minutes without a basket midway
through the half while Southwest Missouri went on a 7-0 run.
Illinois State shot 42 percent (20-of-48) from the field, while
the Bears shot 53 percent (21 of 40).
Tyler Chaney had 12 for Southwest Missouri and Merrill Andrews
added 10.
Marcus Arnold led the Redbirds with 17. Trey Guidry added 11 and
Vince Greene scored 10.