NORMAL, Ill. – The Illinois State men's basketball team put a bow on the calendar year with a 66-60 loss to the UNI Panthers, despite 22 points from Liam McChesney.
McChesney made 9-of-14 shots from the field and 3-of-4 from long range. Three other Redbirds: Malachi Poindexter, Colton Sandage, and Kendall Lewis; each scored eight points for ISU, while Luke Kasubke added seven points. Seneca Knight pulled down a team-best eight rebounds, helping the Redbirds out-rebound the Panthers 35-to-33, Illinois State's seventh consecutive game out-rebounding its opponent. Poindexter dished out a career-high five assists, as the Redbirds had a dozen assists in the contest.
The Redbirds return to action on Wednesday, January 4, when the squad hosts the Indiana State Sycamores in a 7 p.m. tip-off inside CEFCU Arena.
McChesney scored Illinois State's (6-9, 1-3 MVC) first 11 points of the game, the last of the stretch putting IS ahead by four. Leading by three points after Alex Kotov's first career three-pointer, UNI ran off 11 straight points to take a lead it would not give up for the remainder of the game and led 31-25 heading into the locker room at halftime.
UNI pushed its advantage to as many as 13 in the second half before the Redbirds started its comeback, climbing within as few as three on to separate occasions, including as late as 4:32 to play in the game; however, UNI scored the next seven points and stretched the lead to 10 before settling at 66-60.
The Panthers were led by Bowen Born, the MVC's leading scorer, who scored 25 points, while Tytan Anderson added 16.
TEAM NOTES
- Illinois State is now 6-9 (1-3 MVC) on the season while UNI is 6-8 (2-2 MVC).
- Illinois State used a starting lineup of 1 Malachi Poindexter, 3 Seneca Knight, 10 Darius Burford, 13 Liam McChesney, and 23 Harouna Sissoko
- This is the first time that this lineup has been used this season, and the seventh different starting lineup for the squad this year.
- Today's game is the 98th time these two teams have met on the basketball court
- Illinois State leads the all-time series 45-43
- Illinois State won the opening tip.
- The first Illinois State points of the game came with 17:59 to play in the first half on a three-point play by Liam McChesney
- Illinois State's first subs was Kendall Lewis with 17:46 to play in the first half.
- UNI led 31-25 at halftime
- Illinois State out-rebounded UNI 35-to-33, the seventh consecutive game out-rebounding an opponent, now tied for the third-longest stretch of not being out-rebounded by an ISU team since 1990-91.
INDIVIDUAL NOTES
- Malachi Poindexter
- Set a new career-high with five assists
- Opening the season with 17 consecutive made free throws, Malachi Poindexter is one of just four players in the country to be perfect with at least 17 makes this season.
- Liam McChesney
- Reached double-figure scoring for the third time this season.
- Scored Illinois State's first 11 points of the game.
- Scored 20+ points for the second time in his career.
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