MURRAY, Ky. – Forcing overtime on a three-pointer from Malachi Poindexter with 15 seconds to play, the Redbirds fell just short in a 70-67 loss at Murray State on Thursday evening.
Seneca Knight led four ISU players in double figures as he scored a team- and season-high 20 points for the 'Birds making 8-of-13 shots from the field while pulling down a season-high 12 rebounds for his first double-double of the season. Malachi Poindexter and Kendall Lewis each scored 13 points for the Redbirds, while Liam McChesney recorded a season-high 11 points in the contest. Poindexter led the 'Birds with four assists while Lewis and Knight had two steals apiece.
The Redbirds (2-5, 0-1 MVC) started the game strong, with McChesney scoring the first four points of the contest on a turn-around jumper in the paint, and a steal and dunk to put the Redbirds ahead 4-0. Murray State (4-3, 1-0 MVC) followed by scoring the next nine points, taking a lead they would not give up for the remainder of the half. The Racer lead grew to as many as a dozen points before the Redbirds chipped away at the deficit, cutting the margin to eight at 35-27 heading into the locker room at halftime.
The Redbird deficit reached 12 points with 7:38 to play in the game before ISU started its rally, using a pair of 5-0 runs to chip away at the Racer lead, as Poindexter tied the game with a three-pointer with 15 seconds to play in regulation, and a Murray State miss at the buzzer sent the game into an extra period.
In overtime – ISU's first of the season – the Redbirds went up on an alley-oop to McChesney, before the hosts ran off six straight points to take a four-point lead. ISU fought back and closed the gap to one after a Knight three-point play. After a pair of Murray State free throws with 19 seconds on the clock, the Redbirds had a look at a tying three-pointer that fell just off the rim in the three-point loss.
The Redbirds made 45 percent of their shots in the loss (27-of-60) and was 8-of-28 from beyond the arc and 5-of-6 from the charity stripe. Murray State shot 42.6 percent (26-of-61) from the field, 8-of-26 (30.8%) from long range, and was 10-of-15 from the free throw stripe.
Rob Perry scored 20 points for Murray State while Jamari Smith scored 16, JaCobi Wood 12, and Kenny White Jr. 11. DJ Burns pulled down a team-high 10 rebounds, while Wood dished out a team-best four assists.
The Redbirds are next in action on Sunday, December 4 when the squad hosts MVC newcomer Belmont at 1 p.m. inside of CEFCU Arena.
TEAM NOTES
- Illinois State is now 2-6 on the season and 0-1 in the MVC while Murray State is 4-3, 1-0 in conference play.
- Illinois State used a starting lineup of 1 Malachi Poindexter, 3 Seneca Knight, 10 Darius Burford, 13 Liam McChesney, and 22 Kendall Lewis
- This is the fifth time that this lineup has been used this season.
- Today's game is the eighth time these two teams have met on the basketball court, and the first time as members of the MVC.
- Murray State leads the all-time series 7-1
- Illinois State won the opening tip.
- The first Illinois State points of the game came with 19:43 to play in the first half on a Liam McChesney turnaround jumper in the paint – and was followed by a steal and dunk 19 seconds later.
- Illinois State's first sub was Joe Petrakis with 16:46 to play in the first half.
- Murray State led 35-27 at halftime.
- Malachi Poindexter hit a three-pointer with 15 seconds to play in regulation to send the game to an overtime period.
- Illinois State out-scored Murray State 35-27 in the second half.
- The overtime game is Illinois State's first this season.
- Illinois State won the overtime tip-off
- Seneca Knight reaching 20 points gives ISU three different 20+ point scorers on the season.
INDIVIDUAL NOTES
- Malachi Poindexter
- Reached double-figure scoring for the third game this season.
- Set a career-high with four assists
- Tied a career-high with four rebounds.
- Seneca Knight
- Reached double-figure scoring for the third time this season (all in the last four games)
- Scored a season-high 20 points – his first 20+ point game of the season and the 13th of his career.
- His 12 rebounds are a season-high
- Recorded his first double-double of the season
- Darius Burford
- His six rebounds tied a season-high
- Liam McChesney
- Reached double-figure scoring for the first time this season, marking a season-high
- Kendall Lewis
- Had his fifth game this season (and 29th of his Redbird career) scoring in double-figures
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