NORMAL, Ill. (AP) — Malik Yarbrough converted five straight free throws in the final minute to allow Illinois State to hold off a late rally by Northern Iowa, 79-75 in a Missouri Valley Conference clash on Saturday night.

Illinois State entered the game tied with Drake for the No. 3 seed into the conference tournament. The Bulldogs face Missouri State this (Sunday) afternoon. Northern Iowa is in ninth place, a game behind Indiana State.