Friday night's game against Illinois State will count toward Sonoma State's record and statistics.
WHERE TO WATCH: ISU VS. SONOMA STATE
No TV or streaming video available.
USF GOLDEN GATE CHALLENGE OPPONENTS
- Vermont (2-5) - ISU lost, 87-76, Wed., Nov. 27
2012-13 Record: 21-12 / America East Record / Finish: 11-5 (2nd) / Postseason: CBI Tournament
- Sonoma State (1-2) (NCAA Division II) - ISU plays Fri., Nov. 29 at 10:15 p.m. CT
2012-13 Record: 11-16 / California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) Record / Finish: 9-13 (8th)
- San Francisco (4-3) - ISU plays Sat., Nov. 30 at 10:15 p.m. CT
2012-13 Record: 15-16 / West Coast Conference (WCC) Record / Finish: 7-9 (T5th)
ZACH-ATTACK
Illinois State sophomore guard Zach Lofton has consistently led the Redbirds' offensive attack in his first season with the team. Lofton is the only Redbird who has netted double-figures in all five games this year, and he amassed a team-high and career-best 19 points on 7-for-15 (46.7 percent) shooting during Illinois State's loss to Vermont Wednesday night. He currently leads ISU in scoring and ranks 13th in the Missouri Valley Conference with a 13.4 points per game average.
OFFENSE ON TRACK
In a city where cable car tracks line various downtown streets, the Redbird men's basketball team seems to have navigated onto its own offensive track in San Francisco. After ISU combined to shoot 35.6 percent through its first four games, the Redbirds exploded with a season-best 50.0 percent (28-for-56) effort from the field during their loss to Vermont Wednesday night. Illinois State's 55.2 percent first-half performance against the Catamounts was also a season-best.
BENCH PRESS
Not only do Illinois State's opponents have to prepare for the Redbirds' starting five, but they also must scout ISU's bench. That is because Illinois State's bench has outscored its opponent's bench in four out of the first five games this season, for a total of 149-109. This is partially due to four different starting lineups, with only one repeat (Bobby Hunter, John Jones, Paris Lee, Zach Lofton, Michael Middlebrooks).
OPPONENT COMEBACKS
Despite leading by as many as 18 points with three minutes to play in the first half of Wednesday's game against Vermont, the Redbirds' double-digit lead became a double-digit deficit in the second half, with the Catamounts leading by as many as 12 before winning by 11. ISU also saw a double-digit advantage erode from as many as 19 to as little as two at Northwestern (Nov. 17); however, ISU was able to hold off a comeback attempt to secure the road win. ISU has had a lead in four out of its first five games this year.
BALANCING ACT
At least four Redbirds have reached double-figures in four out of Illinois State's first five games this season, with five players amassing double-figures in a game for the first time since November of 2012 during Illinois State's loss to Drexel (Nov. 12, 2013). So far this season, eight of ISU's players on the active roster have amassed double-figures, with Zach Lofton netting 10 or more points in all five games.
A TRIO OF FIRSTS
For the first time in program history, the Illinois State men's basketball team is playing in San Francisco, Calif., at the University of San Francisco Golden Gate Challenge. ISU is also facing two teams at the challenge - Vermont and Sonoma State - for the first time ever. The only squad that the Redbirds had experience against prior to the tournament was San Francisco, with ISU holding a 1-0 all-time record versus the Dons. Illinois State beat USF, 68-52, at the Cowboy Shootout in Casper, Wyo., Dec. 27, 1985.
FACING TOP TEAMS
Four out of Illinois State's first five opponents this season were predicted to win their respective conference titles based on each of their official preseason league polls. That trend continued Wednesday, as the Redbirds began play at the San Francisco Golden Gate Challenge against Vermont, the preseason favorite to win the America East Conference. Despite gaining an 18-point first half lead, ISU fell, 87-76.
GOOD KNIGHT AT THE FOUL LINE
ISU junior guard Daishon Knight led four Redbirds in double-figures with 21 points in ISU's loss to Manhattan (Nov. 20). The Baltimore, Md., native scored more than half of his points from the free throw line where he was 11-for-14. He amassed more free throws than any Redbird since Tyler Brown netted 12 against Evansville last season (Jan. 26, 2013). Meanwhile, Manhattan made 34 total free throws, marking the first time since 2005 that an opponent hit more than 30 charity shots against the Redbirds.
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