ESTERO, Fla. – The Illinois State Redbirds finished with a season-low field goal percentage, falling to the Wright State Raiders by a 74-49 final score, as the 'Birds place fourth of eight schools at the 2023 Gulf Coast Showcase, hosted at Hertz Arena in Estero, Florida.
Four players scored at least eight points for the Redbirds, led by nine points each from Kendall Lewis and Darius Burford, while Brandon Lieb and Myles Foster each scored eight. Foster and Lewis led the team with five rebounds, as Johnny Kinziger and Ty Pence each picked up three steals to tie for the game-high.
The Redbirds return to action on Thursday, December 29 when the team travels to Chicago to take on the Flames of UIC in the MVC-opener for both schools.
Foster opened the scoring in the game, making 1-of-2 free throws (his only free throw miss of the game on five total attempts) before the Raiders scored the next seven points, taking a lead they would not give up for the remainder of the game. The margin remained in single-digits until Wright State ran off a 6-0 run to stretch the margin to 11, as WSU led 39-21 heading into the locker room at halftime.
Wright State kept its foot on the gas pedal, as the Redbirds were only able to get as close as 16 over the final 20 minutes on a Burford three-pointer, with the Raiders cruising to a 74-49 win.
Trey Calvin scored a game-high 26 points for Wright State, while Brandon Noel added 19.
TEAM NOTES
- Illinois State used a starting lineup of 1 Malachi Poindexter, 3 Dalton Banks, 4 Myles Foster, 10 Darius Burford, 12 Brandon Lieb
- This is the fourth consecutive game this group has been in the starting lineup together.
- The starting lineup jersey total (30) is the sixth-lowest by a Redbird team since 1991-92
- Wright State won the opening tip
- The first points of the game came from Myles Foster on a free throw with 19:11 to play in the first half.
- The first subs for Illinois State were Johnny Kinziger and Jordan Davis with 17:20 to play in the first half.
- Wright State led 39-21 at halftime.
- Illinois State continues to lead the all-time series with Wright State 2-1
- The Redbirds did not have a double-figure scorer in a game for the first time since February 4, 2017 at Wichita State.
INDIVIDUAL NOTES
- Myles Foster
- Scored eight points for the Redbirds, making 2-of-3 shots from the field and 4-of-5 free throws.
- Tied for the team lead with five rebounds
- Darius Burford
- Tied for the team lead with nine points, making 4-of-10 shots from the field.
- Brandon Lieb
- Scored a career-high eight points for the Redbirds, making all eight of his free throw tries.
- His eight free throw makes more than double his previous career free throw make total (six)
- His 8-of-8 shooting from the charity stripe is tied for the 24th-best single-game free throw performance by a senior in school history.
- Ty Blake
- Saw the first action of his Illinois State basketball career.
- Nik Stadleman
- Scored his first collegiate basket with a three-pointer in the first half.
- The game was his first action for the Redbirds this season.
- Kendall Lewis
- Scored nine points for the fourth consecutive game, and he has more nine-point games than any other player in the country this season.
- Tied for the team-high with five rebounds.
- Ryan Schmitt
- Saw his first action on the court this season
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