Valparaiso Beacons at Illinois State Redbirds
· NCAA Men's Basketball
65 - 62
Freeman-Liberty leads late charge, Valpo tops Illinois State
Valpo (14-13, 7-7 Missouri Valley Conference) trailed by 17 points three times in the second half before Freeman-Liberty took charge, making his last eight field goals and adding four steals in the second period. He finished with 10-for-14 shooting, seven rebounds, three assists and five steals.
The Crusaders defense was clutch in the last 20 seconds with two steals and a game-ending blocked shot.
Nursing a 62-61 lead with under a minute left, the Redbirds (8-18, 3-11) had drained the shot clock but before Antonio Reeves could launch a 3, Freeman-Liberty simply took the ball and raced for the go-ahead fast-break layup. ISU's Jaycee Hillsman then had the ball tapped away by Donovan Clay, Freeman-Liberty plucked it off the court and sprinted for a dunk with a second left. Clay then swatted DJ Horne's corner 3 into the stands as time expired.
Horne scored 14 and Zach Copeland 17 for Illinois State.
Valparaiso visits Drake on Wednesday. The Redbirds are at Loyola-Chicago on Wednesday.
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Recent Plays
| 2nd 0:00 | End of Game | 65 - 62 |
| 2nd 0:00 | End of 2nd half | 65 - 62 |
| 2nd 0:00 | Illinois State Offensive Rebound. | 65 - 62 |
| 2nd 0:00 | Donovan Clay Block. | 65 - 62 |
| 2nd 0:00 | DJ Horne missed Three Point Jumper. | 65 - 62 |
Statistics
 VAL |
 ILST |
|
|---|---|---|
| 23-47 | FG | 24-59 |
| 49 | Field Goal % | 41 |
| 5-16 | 3PT | 9-21 |
| 31 | Three Point % | 43 |
| 14-19 | FT | 5-8 |
| 74 | Free Throw % | 63 |
| 31 | Rebounds | 34 |
| 5 | Offensive Rebounds | 11 |
| 26 | Defensive Rebounds | 23 |
| 8 | Assists | 10 |
| 11 | Steals | 9 |
| 4 | Blocks | 1 |
| 14 | Turnovers | 16 |
| 1 | Team Turnovers | 0 |
| 14 | Total Turnovers | 16 |
| 0 | Technical Fouls | 0 |
| 0 | Total Technical Fouls | 0 |
| 0 | Flagrant Fouls | 0 |
| 18 | Points Off Turnovers | 19 |
| 20 | Fast Break Points | 8 |
| 32 | Points in Paint | 20 |
| 13 | Fouls | 18 |
| 3 | Largest Lead | 17 |
Game Information
Location: Normal, IL
Attendance: 4,529 | Capacity:
2025-26 Missouri Valley Conference Standings
| TEAM | CONF | GB | OVER |
|---|---|---|---|
| Belmont | 16-4 | - | 26-6 |
| Bradley | 13-7 | 3 | 21-13 |
| Illinois State | 12-8 | 4 | 23-13 |
| Murray State | 12-8 | 4 | 20-13 |
| UIC | 12-8 | 4 | 19-16 |
| Northern Iowa | 11-9 | 5 | 23-13 |
| Valparaiso | 11-9 | 5 | 18-15 |
| Southern Illinois | 10-10 | 6 | 16-16 |
| Drake | 6-14 | 10 | 14-20 |
| Indiana State | 4-16 | 12 | 11-21 |
| Evansville | 3-17 | 13 | 7-25 |