The first recruiting class for Illinois football coach Lovie Smith is 24 strong and is ranked Number 32 nationally and second in the Big Ten West by Scout. Ten of the recruits are from the state of Illinois with three more from the St. Louis area.
Illinois State football announced 23 signees on National Signing Day, including four wide receivers, four defensive backs, three defensive line/linebacker prospects, two linebackers, a quarterback and a tight end, and six offensive lineman including one receiving plenty of attention for his unique name – 6-feet-7, 285-pound Kobe Buffalomeat from Lawrence, Kansas.
Illinois State men’s basketball overcame a sluggish offensive start to remain unbeaten in Missouri Valley Conference play with a 57-51 victory over visiting Northern Iowa. Paris Lee led the Birds with 18 points while Phil Fayne registered 17 points and 10 rebounds. The Redbirds are 19-4 overall with their 12th straight win and 11-0 in the Valley. They travel to second place Wichita State on Saturday.
Elsewhere in the Valley, Indiana State edged Evansville 85-84 in overtime, Southern Illinois handled Bradley 85-65 and Wichita State stayed a game behind the Redbirds with a 77-69 win at Drake.
Illinois Wesleyan men swung back into action with a 65-53 win at Millikin. Brady Rose led the Titans with 15 points while Nick Coleman chipped in 14. The Titans host Carroll on Saturday. IWU will honor the 1997 men’s basketball national championship team during Saturday’s home contest. Saturday will be the annual “Pink Zone” game to raise funds for the Bloomington-Normal Community Cancer Center.
The Illinois Wesleyan women defeated visiting Millikin 70-58.
In the Big Ten, Number 23 Purdue hammered Number 25 Northwestern 80-59 and Indiana beat Penn State 110-102 in triple overtime.
The Bulls throttled Oklahoma City 128-100.
The Blues host Toronto while the Blackhawks visit Arizona tonight.
Illinois Wesleyan is the preseason pick to win the men’s lacrosse title in the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin. The Titan women are picked to finish third.
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