NORMAL, Ill. (AP) Lorenzo Gordon scored 22 points and grabbed six rebounds to lead Illinois State to a 77-69 victory over St. John's on Saturday.
The Redbirds (5-2) built a 44-31 lead at the half on 55 percent shooting from the field and managed to hold on for the victory despite a fall off in field-goal accuracy in the second half.
Khalif Ford scored 14 points and Gregg Alexander added 13 for the Redbirds.
St. John's (2-3) outscored Illinois State by five in the second half.
Daryll Hill was the leading scorer for St. John's with 22 points. Eugene Lawrence scored 14 points and Lamont Hamilton had 13. Ryan Williams added 11 points and grabbed nine rebounds for St. John's.
