VALPARAISO, Ind. – A late Redbird push trimmed a nine-point Valparaiso lead to just three; however, Illinois State could not overcome the full amount, falling 81-76 on Saturday evening to the Beacons.
Seneca Knight scored 20 points to lead four double-digit scorers for ISU, as Darius Burford scored 17, Malachi Poindexter 16, and Kendall Lewis 10 in the five-point loss. Lewis pulled down a team-leading six rebounds, while Burford gave out five assists with a team-high four steals.
ISU struck first in the game with a three-pointer by Knight, before the host Beacons ran off eight straight points to lead 8-3. The Redbirds chipped away at the deficit and evened the game with 14:13 to play in the first half on a Liam McChesney three-pointer. A 9-0 Redbird run put the visitors ahead by four at 24-20, and the ISU advantage reached as many as five following a Burford three-pointer with 8:03 to play in the opening half. The host Beacons answered with a nine-point run before ISU cut the gap to four at 42-38 heading into the locker room at halftime.
Illinois State and Valpo traded baskets to start the second half before the hosts ran off four straight points to extend the lead to 10 – the largest deficit for ISU in the game. Trailing by 10 with 6:37 to play in the contest, the Redbirds started to chip away at the Valpo lead and got to within three with four seconds left after Poindexter's fourth three-pointer of the game; however, Valparaiso iced the game with two free throws to secure the five-point margin.
Quinton Green scored a game-high 25 points with 10 rebounds while Ben Krikke scored 24 with six points and six assists.
The Redbirds return home to CEFCU Arena on Wednesday night when the team hosts the Murray State Racers in a 7 p.m. tip-off.
TEAM NOTES
- Illinois State is now 10-17 (5-11 MVC) on the season while Valparaiso is 11-16 (5-11 MVC).
- Illinois State used a starting lineup of 1 Malachi Poindexter, 3 Seneca Knight, 10 Darius Burford, 22 Kendall Lewis, and Ryan Schmitt
- This is the first time this lineup has been used this season.
- This is the 12th different starting lineup used this season by ISU, the seventh-most different starting lineups in the country.
- Tonight's game is the 23rd time these two teams have met on the basketball court
- Valparaiso leads the all-time series between the teams 14-9
- The Beacons lead in games played in Valparaiso 7-4
- Illinois State won the opening tip.
- The first Illinois State points of the game came with 19:32 to play in the first half on Seneca Knight three-pointer.
- Illinois State's first sub was Liam McChesney with 16:23 to play in the first half.
- Valparaiso led 42-38 at the half
INDIVIDUAL NOTES
- Malachi Poindexter
- Was the team's fourth double-digit scorer in the game, his third straight game scoring in double-figures, and his 12th of the season
- Had his sixth game this season with at least three three-point baskets
- Tied a career-high with four made three-pointers
- Seneca Knight
- Was the first Redbird in double-figure scoring in the game, and it was his 15th time in double-figures this season and 59th of his career.
- Scored 20 points for the fourth time this season and 16th time in his career
- Darius Burford
- Reached double-figure scoring for the fourth consecutive game, the 18th time this season in his 26th game played, and 45th time in his career.
- Kendall Lewis
- Reached double-figure scoring for the 15th time this season and 39th time in his collegiate career
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