TERRE HAUTE, Ind. - Illinois State must have left the Hulman Civic Center last night believing that history does repeat itself as the Redbirds suffered their second consecutive two-point loss to Indiana State. Last year they were beaten by the Sycamores in a NIT playoff game and Monday night with Carl Nicks hitting a 18 jumper with:38 left were the losers again 78 to 76.

Larry Bird hit on 12 of 25 from the floor and was perfect seven free throw attempts to finish with 31 points, 19 rebounds, six assists and three steals. Nicks pumped in 23 counters and Bob Heaton added 10 to give I.S.U. a balance attack. Illinois State's smooth as silk 6'5" guard, Ron Jones, led all scorers as he connected on 13 of 23 from the field and six of six from the line to tally 32 points. Illinois State got into early foul trouble and this had a big effect on the game in the later stages.

The Redbirds broke a 20-20 tie with 9:16 left in the first half as they scored six quick  points to grab an advantage they held until Nicks tied the game at 30 with a breakaway stuff. Indiana State outscored the visitors 8 to 5 the rest of the half to hold a 38-35 lead at intermission.

As at Evansville, the Trees got off to a very poor second half start and the Redbirds ran off ten points to lead 45-38 with 3:13 gone. The visitors built their biggest lead of the night on
Jones 18' jumper and the Sycamores were in trouble but fought back. The teams traded baskets with the Redbirds leading from six to nine points as the clock continued to move
Illinois State's 7'0" center Joe Galvin fouled out with 7:25 left and 10 points. McKay Smith joined him on the bench with five fouls at the 4:19 mark and the Sycamores began to cut into the lead.

Nick's two free throws reduced the lead to four at 70-66 and after an Illinois State basket. Bird hit two free throws, Nicks sank one and Bird hit a 25' jumper with 212. minutes left to
put the Trees down by one at 72-71. Jones added two free throws to pad the lead to three but  Bird scored the next five points on a basket and a three-point play to give the Sycamores their first lead, at 76-84. since early in the second half.

Jones was fouled and converted on both free throws to tie the game at 76 eight seconds later. Nicks then hit what proved to be the winning basket with :36 left. The Redbirds then turned
the ball over on errors, the Sycamores on a bad pass, and with 10.189 fans going wild, Indiana State had control of the ball with one second left and ran their season record to a perfect 4-0 record. The Sycamores play Butler on Saturday. Dec., 16, in their next home game.