Illinois State Redbirds 2002 Australian Summer Tour
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The Illinois State men's basketball team will experience a 14-day tour of
Australia in August of 2002. The tour features a six-game exhibition schedule running from August 4th through the 17th. In addition to the trip, they also get 10 days of official practice. Along with the head start, they will also have the opportunity to build the team camaraderie, while gaining game experience, and experience a part of the world that most have yet to see. In all, the Redbirds will visit six Australian cities. ISU's first game will be on August 7, against the 2000-01 National Basketball League champions, the Wollongong Hawks. The 'Birds will face the Sydney Kings, Brisbane Capitals and Brisbane Bullets in three straight days, on August 9, 10, and 11, respectively. They will close out the trip on August 14 and 15 at the Kuiyam Pride and the Cairns Taipans. |
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Aug 4 - depart for Australia Aug 7 Australian Under-20 National Team Aug 9 Sydney Kings Aug 10 Brisbane Capitals Aug 11 Brisbane Bullets Aug 14 Kuiyam Pride Aug 15 Cairns Taipans Aug 17 Return home |
Results
Game 1
Gregg Alexander scored a game-high 26 points, but it wasn't enough as the Illinois State men's basketball
team fell 89-76 to the Australian Under-20 National Team, Wednesday night, in the first of six games on the
international tour. Alexander scored 17 points in the first half on 5-for-7 shooting from 3 as the Redbirds
took a 44-41 lead into the break. The Aussies took control of the game in the third quarter by out scoring
the 'Birds 25-10. Baboucarr Bojang scored 14 points in 31 minutes of action. Dirk Williams chipped in a
double-double with 11 points and 10 boards, while Vince Greene scored 11 points along with six assists. Trey
Guidry scored six points for ISU. Andy Strandmark and Kevin Troc each added three points and Kenneth Hill
tossed in two. The Redbirds shot 42.9 percent for the game, including 47.4 percent from behind the arc.
Andrew Bogut led the way for the Aussies with 17 points on 7-for-10 shooting.
Game 2
Illinois State men's basketball team fell to the Sydney Kings of the Australian National Basketball League
80-74, Friday night at the Northern Beaches Indoor Sports Centre in front of 500 fans. Gregg Alexander and
Baboucarr Bojang led the Redbirds with 17 points a piece. Bojang posted a double-double by adding 13 rebounds.
The Birds led 46-40 at the half and pushed the lead to 10 in the third quarter, but ISU was out-scored 40-28
in the second half. Illinois State shot 21-for-41 (.512) for the game, but committed 25 turnovers. Vince
Greene added 13 points, six assists and four steals, before fouling out of the contest. Trey Guidry and Kevin
Troc scored 11 and 10 points, respectively however Guidry also had nine turnovers. Travis Lane led the way
for the Kings with a game-high 31 points.
Game 3
Sophomore guard Vince Greene poured in a team-high 33 points to lead Illinois State to a 105-95 victory over
the Brisbane Capitals in the Redbirds first win on the 14-day tour of Australia. Greene sank 4-of-7 3 point
attempts as well as five rebounds, five assists and 2 steals. The Birds held on for the win, despite
Baboucarr Bojang, Andy Strandmark and Dirk Williams all fouling out. The Capitols shot 52 free throws in the
game and were were 35-for-52 from the line. ISU made 20 of 26 free throws. ISU trailed 52-50 at halftime, but
a 31-21 run in the third quarter gave the Birds a lead they would never give up. The Redbirds held the
Capitals to 36.7 percent shooting for the game, including 31.6 percent in the second half. For the second
straight game, Bojang posted a double-double with 19 points and 11 rebounds, while Strandmark led the way for
the Birds on boards with 14 rebounds. Trey Guidry added 17 points on 3-for-5 shooting from behind the arc,
while Kevin Troc contributed in 11 to round out the Redbirds' double-digit scorers. Daniel George led the way
for the Capitals with a game-high 34 points that included a 14-for-21 performance from the foul line.
Game 4
Trey Guidry poured in a game-high 29 points, but the Illinois State men's basketball fell to the Brisbane
Bullets of the Australian National Basketball League 124-105. Guidry shot 10-for-20 from the field, including
a 6-of-8 effort on threes. Baboucarr Bojang posted his third straight double-double with 18 points and 15
rebounds. Andy Strandmark also notched a double-double with 14 points and 10 boards. Vince Greene added 19
points and five assists. The Redbirds trailed after the first quarter 34-25, and again at the half, 64-53.
ISU committed 19 turnovers, to the Bullets' nine, which led to 27 points for the Brisbane. The Birds won the
rebound battle 55-48 and shot 45.3 percent from the floor, including 56.3 percent on treys. Damien Ryan led
the way for the Bullets with 28 points, while Glen Siegle and former Cincinnati player Bobby Brannen
scored 23 and 21 points, respectively.
Game 5
Trey Guidry scored a team-high 26 points to lead Illinois State over the Kuiyam Pride 91-90
at Fretwell Park to give the Redbirds their second win of the six-game Australian tour. ISU
had four players in double figures with senior Andy Strandmark posting another double-double
with 12 points and 11 rebounds. Vince Greene contributed 15 points, while Gregg Alexander
added 11 points and 5 assists. The Birds trailed 53-50 at the half and 71-65 heading
into the fourth quarter, but outscored the Pride 26-19 in the final quarter. Timmy Duggan
led the way for the Pride with a game-high 28 points. ISU’s Baboucarr Bojang finished with
8 points and 9 rebounds.
Game 6
For the third-straight game, sophomore Trey Guidry led the way
for the Illinois State men’s basketball team with 24 points,
but the Birds fell to the Cairns Taipans 110-91, in the sixth and final game of
the 14-day Australian tour, Thursday, at the
Bendigo Bank Basketball Complex.Guidry was one of five Redbirds in double
figures. He finished 9-for-17 from the field
that included an impressive 5-of-6 on threes. Vince Greene finished with 18
points and 6 rebounds. Baboucarr Bojang added 14 points
and 7 rebounds. Andy Strandmark scored 12 points, while Gregg Alexander added
11.ISU trailed after the first quarter 25-21,
but bounced back to take a 47-44 lead at the half. The two teams went to the
fourth quarter tied at 74-74. The Taipans, who were led by
Jason Wells’ game-high 29 points, out-rebounded the Redbirds 53-49 and
finished shooting 46.9 percent from the floor to
ISU’s 44.4 percent. Cairns also was able to capitalize off the 22 Redbird
turnovers by converting them into 31 points.
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