DES MOINES, Iowa – Despite 16 points from Darius Burford and a 13-point, 11-rebound double-double from Seneca Knight, the Illinois State Redbirds went cold in the second half, falling to MVC co-leader Drake on Wednesday night by an 82-51 final score in senior night for the Bulldogs.
Burford was 6-of-17 from the field in the loss, while converting on 3-of-7 three-point field goals and tying a season-high with eight rebounds. Knight was 4-of-12 from the field and a perfect 4-of-4 at the charity stripe, while puling down 11 rebounds – one away from his season-high – in the loss. In all, 10 different Redbirds scored in the game.
ISU returns to action to finish out the 2022-23 regular season, hosting the Evansville Aces on senior night as in a post-game ceremony, the Redbirds will honor four players: Seneca Knight, Colton Sandage, Alex Kotov, and Harouna Sissoko.
The Redbirds and Bulldogs battled neck-in-neck for the majority of the first half, and ISU led 21-20 with 11:09 to play in the first half before the hosts ran off a 7-0 run to take a lead they would not relinquish for the remainder of the game. The Bulldogs led by as many as 11 in the first half before ISU cut the gap to 42-32 heading into the locker room at halftime.
In the second half the margin remained at 10 with 16 minutes to play in the game; however, Drake scored the next nine points before extending the lead to 31 in the 82-51 loss.
Drake was led by Tucker DeVries who scored a game-high 18 points, while Garrett Sturtz scored 14. Roman Penn and D.J. Wilkins each scored a dozen points in the win.
TEAM NOTES
- Illinois State is now 10-20 (5-14 MVC) on the season while Drake is 23-6 (15-4 MVC).
- Illinois State used a starting lineup of 1 Malachi Poindexter, 3 Seneca Knight, 10 Darius Burford, 22 Kendall Lewis, and 23 Harouna Sissoko
- This is the second time this lineup has been used this season
- Tonight's game is the 103rd time these two teams have met on the basketball court
- Illinois State leads the all-time series 65-38
- Drake leads the all-time series 25-20 in games played in Des Moines
- Drake won the opening tip.
- The first Illinois State points of the game came with 19:06 to play in the first half on a Seneca Knight turn-around jumper.
- Illinois State's first subs were Luke Kasubke and Ryan Schmitt with 14:20 to play in the first half
- Drake led 42-32 at the half
INDIVIDUAL NOTES
- Seneca Knight
- Scored in double-figures for the 17th time this season and for his 61st time of his career.
- Pulled down double-digit rebounds for the second time this season
- Had a double-double for the second time this season
- Darius Burford
- For the seventh consecutive game (all since wearing his protective facemask) he has scored in double-figures.
- The game is his 20th time this season and 47th time in his career that he has reached double-digit scoring.
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