PEORIA, Ill. – The Illinois State Redbirds put four players in double-figure scoring, and got a 16-point, 12-rebound double-double from Kendall Lewis, but it was not enough against the Bradley Braves, as the 'Birds fell in the 137th game of the I-74 Rivalry series by a 79-75 score in overtime.
Seneca Knight scored a game-high 19 points for Illinois State, while Lewis scored 16, Malachi Poindexter 15 and Luke Kasubke 13. Lewis' 12 rebounds were a game-high, while Kasubke grabbed a career-high eight rebounds in the loss while the Redbirds out-rebounded Bradley 44-to-25 in the game. Kasubke and Darius Burford each dished out a team-high three assists in the loss.
Bradley struck first by scoring the first three points of the game before the Redbirds answered with a 9-2 run to take a 9-5 lead. The 'Birds would keep their lead with 14:36 to play in the opening period. The lead remained for ISU until 11:26 to play in the first half and grew to as many as five at 22-17 with 8:51 remaining in the period. The Redbirds kept chipping away at the deficit, and while trailing by four ISU ran off an 8-0 run, capped by a Knight step-back jumper, with the run fueling the Redbirds to a 40-36 halftime advantage.
ISU stretched its lead to as many as 10 with 10:41 to play in the game, before the hosts started their comeback, chipping away at the deficit, and taking a two-point lead at 65-63. Trailing by two, 67-65, the Redbirds got a three-pointer from Poindexter and a free throw from Liam McChesney to regain the lead, before Zek Montgomery hit two free throws with three seconds left in regulation to send the game to an extra period.
The Redbirds jumped out to a 4-0 lead through the first two and a half minutes of overtime; however, Bradley would close the game on an 8-0 run to secure the four-point rivalry win.
Bradley was led by Malevy Leons who scored 16 points with a game-high 11 rebounds in the game.
The Redbirds return to action on Sunday, January 29 when the squad hosts the Southern Illinois Salukis in a 2 p.m. tip-off inside CEFCU Arena.
TEAM NOTES
- Illinois State is now 8-14 (3-8 MVC) on the season while Bradley is 14-8 (7-4 MVC).
- Illinois State used a starting lineup of 0 Luke Kasubke, 1 Malachi Poindexter, 3 Seneca Knight, 10 Darius Burford, and 13 Liam McChesney
- This is the first time this lineup has been used this season, and the 10th different lineup combination for the Redbirds.
- Tonight's game is the 137th time these two teams have met on the basketball court
- Bradley leads the all-time series 70-67
- Bradley won the opening tip.
- The first Illinois State points of the game came with 16:27 to play in the first half on a Kendall Lewis driving lay-in
- Illinois State's first sub was Kendall Lewis with 16:57 to play in the first half.
- Illinois State led 40-36 at halftime
- The game was tied 69-69 at the end of regulation
- This was ISU's third overtime game this season.
- Illinois State won the tip for overtime.
INDIVIDUAL NOTES
- Luke Kasubke
- Reached the double-figure plateau for the seventh time this season, and seventh time in his career
- His free throw makes and attempts are a career-high
- His eight rebounds are a new career-high
- Malachi Poindexter
- Scored in double-figures for the third consecutive game, and for the ninth time of his career
- Saw a streak of 36 consecutive made free throws come to an end
- The streak was the third-longest in school history and tied for the 14th-longest in MVC history.
- His six free throw makes in the game tied a career-high
- Seneca Knight
- Scored in double-figures for the 12th time this season and 56th time in his career
- Kendall Lewis
- Reached double-figure scoring for the 11th time this season and the 35th time in his career
- Pulled down double-digit rebounds for the fifth time this season
- The double-double was his fourth of the season.
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