NORMAL - Anthony Slack could rejoice in one score this weekend. "Go Saints, baby!" exclaimed Illinois State's junior forward and New Orleans native before practice Sunday.

However, Slack was still aching with the rest of his teammates from a 70-66 loss at Drake Saturday. With a third of the Missouri Valley Conference season completed, the Redbirds are 1-5 and tied for last place with Drake.

There's no time for the Redbirds (9-8 overall) to catch their breath or feel sorry for themselves. ISU entertains high-scoring Missouri State (13-4 overall, 4-2 Valley) at 7:05 p.m. today at Redbird Arena.

"Everybody is still coming along and trying to find our way," said Slack, who produced 12 points and seven rebounds off the bench against Drake. "We've had a lot of close games, and right now we're trying to figure out a way to eliminate some of our mistakes and maybe we'll be able to come out with a win."

Five of the top eight players who have emerged for ISU had never played a minute of Division I basketball coming into this season.

But with only six weeks left in the regular season, ISU coach Porter Moser said "we're way too deep for that" lack of experience to be used as an excuse.

"You talk about moving the team forward and you have to keep teaching them it's a fine line between winning and losing games," said Moser. "It's important they keep learning."

ISU has been involved in four tight games this month. The Redbirds lost by eight points at league-leading Creighton and four points to Indiana State before beating Northern Iowa by three points in overtime.

Some key defensive breakdowns in the final four minutes against Drake proved costly for the Redbirds.

"When we played Northern Iowa we saw how good our defense was," said Slack. "We did some things in the Northern Iowa game we didn't do in this game (against Drake). We don't know why. We have to bring our defense on a consistent basis."

Slack sat out the second half against Northern Iowa because of back spasms. He winced in pain when he made a rebound tip-in and got fouled with 44.9 seconds left Saturday, but stayed in the game.

"Right now my team needs me," said Slack. "I've been getting treatments two or three times a day to try and help it out. I'm not really worried about me and my pain. I have to fight through it."

ISU figures it will have to fight through screens all night against Missouri State. The Bears lead the Valley in scoring (78.4 points), scoring margin (plus-14.4), field goal percentage (.497) and assists (18.5).

Senior Blake Ahearn, who has led the nation the last three years in free throw percentage, is the Valley's fifth-leading scorer with a 16.2 average. Ahearn is shooting 50.5 percent from 3-point range, while Tyler Chaney, point guard Spencer Laurie and reserve Dale Lamberth all are better than 40 percent outside the arc.

"They're as good or better than any team we've seen on tape," said Moser. "They have so much firepower on offense and are doing a good job getting after you on defense."

This was by far the longest weekend of the season for Missouri State, which handed Wisconsin its only defeat and lost three games by a combined seven points.

Missouri State went to Carbondale on Saturday and was manhandled 76-56 by Southern Illinois. Afterwards, the Bears couldn't fly home to Springfield because of an ice storm and have spent the last two nights in Bloomington-Normal.

"You had two teams and one had won its last game by 52 and one lost its last game by two," said Missouri State coach Barry Hinson. "One team had a sense of urgency and one was too big for its britches.

"We immediately came back and watched film until midnight. You don't put it to rest until you play your next game. You respond by how you play your next game."

Today is the start of a three-game homestand for ISU. The Redbirds face Wichita State at 7:05 p.m. Thursday before a rematch against Drake at 2:05 p.m. Sunday.

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Missouri State vs. Illinois State

Time: 7:05 p.m.

Site: Redbird Arena, Normal

Radio: WJBC-AM (1230), WJEZ-FM (98.9)

Records: Missouri State 13-4, 4-2 Missouri Valley Conference; Illinois State 9-8, 1-5

Series history: Illinois State leads 26-20 (Missouri State won 72-61 on Feb. 22, 2006)

Coaches: Missouri State's Barry Hinson has a 143-94 record in his eight seasons and a 179-117 record in 10 seasons as a head coach. Illinois State's Porter Moser has a 45-59 record in his four seasons and a 99-93 record in seven seasons as a head coach.

About the Bears: Missouri State was picked to finish fourth in the preseason Missouri Valley Conference poll by coaches, media and sports information directors. Blake Ahearn is trying to become the first player in NCAA history to lead a statistical category four straight years. Ahearn has finished first in free throw percentage the last three years. This season he is No. 3 at .943 (66 of 70). Junior point guard Spencer Laurie is a transfer from Missouri and ranks third in the Valley in assists (5.3 per game) and assist/turnover ratio (2.31). The Bears, who are No. 19 in realtimerpi.com, have used the same starting lineup in 16 of 17 games.

Next up: Illinois State meets Wichita State at 7:05 p.m. Thursday at Redbird Arena.

PROBABLE STARTERS

MISSOURI STATE

Player…..Pos……Ht……PPG…..RPG

Nathan Bilyeu…..F…..6-6…..9.9…..4.3

Tyler Chaney…..F…..6-5…..10.7…..4.9

Drew Richards…..C…..6-9…..8.0…..4.8

Spencer Laurie…..G…..6-1…..6.9…..2.5

Blake Ahearn…..G…..6-2…..16.2…..1.7

ILLINOIS STATE

Player…..Pos……Ht……PPG…..RPG

Greg Dilligard…..F…..6-8…..8.6…..5.8

Levi Dyer…..C…..6-11…..7.8…..3.6

Osiris Eldridge…..G…..6-3…..8.4…..3.6

Dom Johnson…..G…..6-0…..10.7…..1.9

Boo Richardson…..G…..5-8…..10.8…..2.8

Compiled by Jim Benson