CHICAGO – Behind a second half in which Illinois State out-scored UIC 39-28, the Redbirds picked up a 69-64 MVC-opening win inside Credit Union 1 Arena on Thursday evening.
Darius Burford scored a season-high 20 points, his 14th 20-point game of his career, while Dalton Banks scored a career-high 19 points – all in the second half – in the win. Luke Kasubke scored 11 points for the 'Birds, while Myles Foster had nine points and a team-best eight rebounds. ISU out-rebounded UIC 34-to-28 in the game, as Kendall Lewis added seven rebounds for ISU.
The Redbirds made a season-high 58.1 percent of their shots in the game, including an eye-popping 68.4 percent (13-of-19) in the second half. The Flames – who came into the game with the fifth-best field goal percentage defense in the NCAA – gave up its highest field goal percentage of the season in the loss.
Illinois State returns home on Sunday, December 3, when the team hosts the Murray State Racers in a 2 p.m. tip-off inside CEFCU Arena.
UIC struck first and quickly in the first half, taking a 4-0 lead and the hosts did not trail at any point in the opening 20 minutes of action. The Redbirds fought back from a seven-point deficit to stand tied with UIC following a five-point stretch from Kasubke; however, UIC answered with nine straight points and took a six-point, 36-30 lead into the locker room at halftime.
ISU came out of the halftime locker room strong, using a 7-2 run to tie the score, and then a Brandon Lieb 4-0 run put the 'Birds ahead for the first time with 12:36 to play in the game. The lead changed hands nine times in a six minute stretch, and trailing by one with 8:40 to play, ISU ran off eight straight points to run ahead to a seven-point advantage. ISU's lead eventually reached as many as 10, as the 'Birds held on for the five-point MVC-opening win.
UIC was led by 17 points from Filip Skobalj, while Isaiah Rivera scored 15.
TEAM NOTES
- Illinois State used a starting lineup of 1 Malachi Poindexter, 3 Dalton Banks, 4 Myles Foster, 10 Darius Burford, 22 Kendall Lewis
- This is the first time that this lineup has been used this season.
- Wright State won the opening tip
- The first points of the game came from Myles Foster on a second-chance lay-up with 17:19 to play in the first half, the second consecutive game that Foster has had the first points for the Redbirds.
- The first subs for Illinois State were Johnny Kinziger and Johnny Kinziger with 14:25 to play in the first half.
- UIC led 36-30 at halftime.
- Illinois State goes to 4-3 on the season and 1-0 in MVC play
- The Redbirds lead the all-time series between the two schools 20-8 after the Thursday win.
- The team's 58.1 field goal percentage was the highest this season, and the highest since January 21, 2022 when the Redbirds made 70.2 percent of their shots at home against Evansville and the highest in a road game since January 10, 2021 at Evansville where ISU made 62.5 percent of their shots in a win.
INDIVIDUAL NOTES
- Luke Kasubke
- Reached double-figure scoring for the second time this season and 11th time in his career.
- Dalton Banks
- Reached a career-high with 19 points, two more than his previous career-high of 17 at Saint Louis.
- Scored in double-figures for the fifth time this season, and 16th time in his career.
- Darius Burford
- Scored in double-figures for the third time this season and 53rd time in his career.
- Reached 20 points for the first time this season and for the 14th time over his career.
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