NORMAL, Ill. – A first-half-ending stretch in which the Redbirds made just one basket proved to be the difference for ISU in a 59-50 loss to the Valparaiso Beacons on a cold Sunday afternoon.
Valpo used a 13-2 run over the final four minutes of the opening half to turn a three-point deficit into an eight-point halftime lead, as the Redbird offense was cold for the entire day.
The Redbirds return to action on Wednesday, January 17, when ISU hosts the Drake Bulldogs inside CEFCU Arena at 7 p.m.
Myles Foster and Darius Burford each scored nine points for ISU, while Kendall Lewis added eight in the loss. Two others – Luke Kasubke and Johnny Kinziger – each scored six for the 'Birds. Lewis and Jordan Davis each pulled down a team-leading eight rebounds, with the Redbirds out-rebounding the Beacons 39-to-37 for the contest.
Dalton Banks gave out six assists to lead the team, as ISU had a 13-to-7 assist-to-turnover ratio for the game. For the second consecutive game, Davis set a career-high in steals, pilfering four in the loss to Valpo.
The Redbirds started well, as the Redbirds pulled ahead by as many as four points following a Foster free throw, and ISU led by three with 4:24 to play in the first half before Valparaiso scored nine points, providing the seventh and final lead change of the game. Following a jumper by Kinziger, the Beacons scored the final four points of the period to send the visitors into the locker room with a 28-20 advantage.
In the second half the Beacons extended the lead to as many as 13, and ISU would only be able to get as close as seven before falling by nine in the MVC match-up.
The Redbirds made just 19-of-59 shots (32.2%) for the game, and 1-of-18 (5.6%) from beyond the arc. Valparaiso converted on 43.1 percent of its shots (22-of-51), and 4-of-12 from long range.
The Beacons were led by Cooper Schwieger who scored a game-high 16 while pulling down 13 rebounds while Isaiah Stafford scored 11 points in the win.
TEAM NOTES
- Illinois State used a starting lineup of 3 Dalton Banks, 4 Myles Foster, 5 Jordan Davis, 10 Darius Burford, and 22 Kendall Lewis
- This is the first time this season that this lineup has been used and is the sixth different lineup that ISU has used in 2023-24
- Valparaiso won the opening tip
- The first Illinois State points of the game came from Myles Foster with a lay-up with 19:30 to play in the opening half
- It is the team-leading sixth time this season that ISU's first points have come from Foster
- The first subs for Illinois State were Johnny Kinziger and Chase Walker with 16:24 to play in the first half
- Valparaiso led 28-20 at halftime.
- Had a positive assist-to-turnover ratio (13-to-7) for the eighth time this season
- The team's seven turnovers are tied for the second-fewest in a game this season for ISU
- The Redbirds out-rebounded a third consecutive opponent, and out-rebounded its foe for the 13th time this season
INDIVIDUAL NOTES
- Ty Pence
- Tied a career-high with four points
- Dalton Banks
- Has started each of the team's 17 games this season
- Myles Foster
- Started today for the 16th time this season
- Jordan Davis
- The game was his first start as a Redbird
- For the second consecutive game set a career-high in steals with four against the Beacons
- Darius Burford
- Started his 14th game this season and 41st game as a Redbird
- Kendall Lewis
- Opened the game with his 12th start this season, and 74th start while at Illinois State
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