Official Site of the Redbirds · Mar 3, 2020
Beating the odds: Redbird basketball’s Ricky Torres learned from difficult experiences
Ricky Torres calmly stepped to the free-throw line with 7.1 seconds to go. The Illinois State men's basketball team was nursing a two-point lead over Drake February 22 at Redbird Arena, and the senior point guard had an opportunity to ice the game.
He spun the ball and looked down at a tattoo of his 5-year-old son, Adriel, on his right forearm. Torres knew these shots meant more than just securing a win for Illinois State. It would show Adriel, who was in attendance for the first time this season, how to stand up in the face of pressure. It would show his mom and stepdad, also both at the game, that he drew strength from their determination.