Paris Lee scored 18 points to lead Illinois State past the Wisconsin-Green Bay 69-56 in Wednesday's first round of the National Invitation Tournament.
Daishon Knight added 17 points, while Reggie Lynch and DeVaughn Akoon-Purcell scored 15 and 14, respectively, for the Redbirds (22-12).
The Phoenix were led by Keifer Sykes, who scored 14 points after missing last week's Horizon Conference final loss against Valparaiso because of an ankle injury. Alfonzo McKinnie added 11 points and seven rebounds for Green Bay (24-9).
Green Bay led 31-24 at the half after a sloppy 20 minutes that saw ISU shoot 20 percent (5 for 25) from the field to Green Bay's 45 percent (14 for 31). The Redbirds stayed in the game thanks to making 14 of 15 at the foul line; ISU ended up 27 for 33 from the line, while Green Bay went 6 of 13.
The Phoenix saw their NCAA tournament chances dashed with the loss to Valparaiso, while the Redbirds fell to Northern Iowa in the Missouri Valley championship after shocking top-seeded Wichita State in the semifinals.
ISU will visit top-seeded Old Dominion on Monday in the tournament's second round.
