LOS ANGELES – The Illinois State men's basketball team trimmed a 20-point first half deficit to six in the second half but could not overcome the full margin in an 87-67 loss to an undefeated USC squad in the first game of the Experian HOF Series in Los Angeles.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Birds jumped up early, leading 7-5 before the Trojans ran off a 9-0 run to extend to a 14-7 lead with 12 minutes to play in the opening half. The Redbirds got back with four at 16-12, before the Trojans used a 20-3 run to stretch the lead to double-digits at 36-15. ISU scored the final six points of the opening half to close the first half gap to 14 at 40-26.
ISU started the second half strong, out-scoring USC 8-5 over the first four minutes to climb to within 11 and closed the gap to single-digits on a three-pointer from Ty'Reek Coleman with 14:33 to play in the game. The margin reached its closest point after a Coleman three-point play 30-seconds later, closing the deficit to six at 48-42. The strong and athletic Trojan squad ran off a 12-2 run to stretch the margin to 16 before cruising to the 20-point win.
KEY STATISTICS
- The Redbirds opened with the starting lineup of 10 Ty'Reek Coleman, 11 Johnny Kinziger, 14 Boden Skunberg, 22 Ty Pence, and 35 Chase Walker
- This is ISU's first time with this lineup, as Coleman makes his first collegiate start
- USC won the opening tip
- ISU's first points of the game came from Chase Walker on a lay-up with 18:23 to play in the game
- Illinois State's first sub was Brandon Lieb with 16:55 to play in the first half
- USC led 40-26 at halftime
- The Trojans have taken a 2-1 lead in the all-time series between the two schools
- Kinziger reached double-figure scoring for the third time in three games this season and for the 45th time in his career, putting in 15 for the game
- Coleman reached double-figure scoring for the second consecutive game, putting in 16 against the Trojans, and has scored 40 points in his last two games
- Ty Pence scored nine points for ISU with seven rebounds
- Chase Walker pulled down nine rebounds while scoring six points for ISU
- Landon Wolf converted on eight points with seven rebounds, making all four of his free throw tries
- The Redbirds converted on 12-of-13 free throws in the game (92.3 percent), while being held to 34.3 percent from the field (24-of-70) and 22 percent (7-of-32) from long range
- USC made 51 percent of its shots in the game, while making just 33 percent from long range
- Illinois State out-rebounded USC 39-to-36, the third time in three games this season that the Redbirds have out-rebounded its opponent
NEXT UP
ISU remains on the west coast, and will face off against Long Beach State on Sunday afternoon with a 6 p.m. (CT) tip-off in Long Beach.
