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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.