SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (AP) -- Nathan Bilyeu scored 15 points to lead Southwest Missouri State to a 77-66 win over Illinois State Saturday night.
After trailing 35-30 early in the second half, Southwest Missouri (15-11, 9-8 Missouri Valley) rallied to tie the game at 41 on two free throws by Blake Ahearn after Illinois State coach Porter Moser was called for a technical foul for arguing a noncall.
Neither team led by more than eight points until late in the game, which featured 12 ties and 10 lead changes.
After Levi Dyer scored to give Illinois State (17-11, 8-9) a 53-52 lead with 8:19 left, Ahearn responded with a 3-point basket to put Southwest Missouri ahead 55-53.
Illinois State turned the ball over of its next possession, and an Ahearn pass found Tamarr Maclin wide open under the basket. Maclin scored and was fouled and his free throw put Southwest Missouri up 58-53 with 7:17 left.
Southwest Missouri pushed the lead to 62-54 with 6:08 left, but a 3-pointer and a three-point play by Vince Greene got Illinois State within 64-62 with 3:40 left.
The teams traded baskets until an Illinois State turnover led to a Maclin basket with 1:10 left to put Southwest Missouri ahead 72-66. Illinois State did not score in the last 2:15.
Maclin and Ahearn finished with 13 points each. Deven Mitchell and Kellen Easley each scored 11.
Greene and Trey Guidry each had 16 for Illinois State. Lorenzo Gordon added 11.
