NORMAL, Ill. (AP) - Tre Roberson threw for two touchdowns and ran for another as Illinois State remained undefeated with a 21-7 victory over Missouri State on Saturday night.
Illinois State (7-0, 4-0 Missouri Valley), opening a season with seven straight wins for the first time since 1932, remained tied atop the conference standings with top-ranked North Dakota State, the only MVFC team not on its schedule.
Trailing 7-6 in the fourth quarter, the Redbirds rallied behind Roberson, who ran 7 yards for a score and threw 2 yards to James O'Shaughnessy for another.
The ninth-ranked FCS Redbirds, averaging 42.2 points, were up only 6-0 at halftime on Roberson's 28-yard pass to Scott Kuehn.
The Bears (4-4, 1-3) took the lead with a 90-yard drive in the third quarter capped by Kierra Harris' 30-yard pass to Deion Holliman.
Marshaun Coprich rushed for 148 yards on 31 carries for Illinois State.