Phil Fayne and Deontae Hawkins combined for 43 points and Illinois State led wire-to-wire to beat Division II Ferris State, 81-67 on Sunday.

 

The Redbirds opened with an 8-0 run. While they never trailed they never really put Ferris State away.

The Bulldogs trailed by five at intermission_42-37- and stayed within single digits until Paris Lee hit two free throws with 11:22 left to give Illinois State a 59-48 advantage.

 

Fayne was 9 of 16 from the field for 22 points. Hawkins was 8 of 12, including 2 of 4 from distance, to finish with 21. Collectively the Redbirds were 31 of 68 (45.6 percent) from the field, including 3 of 10 from beyond the arc.

 

Drew Cushingberry scored 20 points to lead Ferris State, which shot 23 of 54 from the floor (42.6 percent) and helped keep the game close by hitting 10 of 24 41.7 percent) from distance.