NORMAL, Ill. – Using five players in double-figure scoring, and a perfect 11-of-11 game from the free throw line, the Illinois State Redbirds improved to 2-0 in the MVC and are in a four-way tie atop the conference through the pair of early league games.
Kendall Lewis scored a team-best 14 points, while Myles Foster and Darius Burford each scored 12, Luke Kasubke scored 11 and Malachi Poindexter added 10. Three players: Foster, Lewis, and Dalton Banks each pulled down five rebounds, as the Redbirds out-rebounded the Racers 33-to-28. Banks dished out a career-best-tying seven assists, and the Redbirds had a +8 assist-to-turnover margin, its highest since January 21, 2022 at home against Evansville.
The Redbirds converted on 49.1 percent of their shots in the game (28-of-57), including shooting 54.2 percent in the second half, while converting on all 11 of the team's free throw tries – all of which came in the final 6:45 of the contest.
ISU remains at home for its next four games, including this Wednesday with a 7 p.m. tip-off against Northern Kentucky inside CEFCU Arena.
Illinois State came out strong to start the game, running out to a 10-2 run following a Burford lay-in, and ISU's lead grew to as many as 11 after a Poindexter three-pointer with 14:13 to play in the opening period. Murray State fought back, and eventually took a one-point lead with one minute to play; however, Johnny Kinziger drilled a three-pointer with 27 seconds left to send ISU into the locker room with a 35-33 lead.
A 13-2 run to start the second half – including an 11-0 run – helped push ISU to a 13-point lead four and a half minutes into the period. The Racers would tighten the score, to as few as two late in the game; however, a perfect free throw game iced the contest for the Redbirds.
Murray State was led by Quincy Anderson who scored 27 points off the bench, including making 6-of-9 shots from long range. Rob Perry scored 15 points, while JaCobi Wood added 11 points and a team-best four assists.
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 second consecutive game that this lineup has been used this season.
- Illinois State won the opening tip
- The first points of the game came from Myles Foster on a second-chance lay-up with 19:43 to play in the first half
- It was the third consecutive game that he had scored the first points of the game for ISU.
- The first sub for Illinois State was Brandon Lieb with 16:15 to play in the first half.
- Illinois State led 35-33 at halftime
- The win for ISU was the first over Murray State since the 2015-16 season, and now trail the all-time series 8-2.
- Illinois State goes to 2-0 in MVC play for the first time since 2017-18
- Prior to the game Darius Burford and Kendall Lewis were honored for each scoring 1,000 collegiate points
- Illinois State had five players score in double-figures in a game for the first time since January 11 of last season when the 'Birds did it against Missouri State.
- The Redbirds improved to 4-0 this season when scoring at least 30 points in the paint
- ISU's +8 assist-to-turnover margin for the game is the highest for the program since January 21, 2022 at home against Evansville
- Illinois State's 11-for-11 day from the free throw line is tied for the seventh-best shooting game in program history (with a minimum of 10 free throw attempts), and the third-highest in CEFCU Arena / Redbird Arena history.
INDIVIDUAL NOTES
- Luke Kasubke
- Reached double-figure scoring for the second straight game and for the third time this season
- Malachi Poindexter
- Scored in double-figures for the fourth time this season, and 17th time over his collegiate career
- Ty Pence
- Had his first made basket as a Redbird in the first half.
- Dalton Banks
- His seven assists tied a career-high set against Illinois State on February 5, 2022
- Myles Foster
- Reached double-figure scoring for the fourth time this season and the 31st time in his career
- Darius Burford
- Scored in double-figures for the fourth time this season (second straight game), and 54th time in his career.
- Johnny Kinziger
- Tied his career-high with two made three-point baskets and two free throws made
- Brandon Lieb
- Set a new career-high in assists
- Kendall Lewis
- Scored in double-figures for the first time this season
- The double-figure game was his 43rd of his career
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