Illinois St tops S Illinois 44-29 to share MVC

Published Nov. 22, 2014 6:20 p.m. ET

foxsports

NORMAL, Ill. (AP) Tre Roberson passed for three touchdowns, Marshaun Coprich rushed for more than 100 yards for the 11th time this season, scoring twice, and Illinois State defeated Southern Illinois 44-29 on Saturday to win 10 games for the first time in school history while earning a share of the Missouri Valley Conference championship.

The Redbirds (10-1, 7-1), whose only other title came in 1999, started quickly with Robertson hiting Cameron Meredith for a 30-yard touchdown and Lechein Neblett for a 70-yarder before the Redbirds adding a safety in the first quarter.

Roberson finished 14 of 23 for a career-high 319 yards. Meredith had a career high of 182 yards on eight catches, his third-straight 100-yard game, and Neblett had four catches for 125.

Coprich's two touchdowns gave him a school record 21 this season.

Southern Illinois (6-6, 3-5) got three touchdown passes from Mark Iannotti.

Illinois State had 602 total yards.