NORMAL, Ill. – Illinois State never trailed as the team picked up its sixth consecutive win with an 89-78 win over the Eastern Kentucky Colonels, as the Redbirds have secured the program's longest win streak since the 2016-17 season.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Redbirds scored the first five points of the game, and never trailed in the opening half. After stretching to a 10-point, 14-4 lead, Eastern Kentucky rallied back, tying the score at 20-20. From there ISU would score the next 13 points with the lead reaching its zenith at 14 before EKU closed the half strong, making 9-of-14 long range shots in the first half including making their last five, as ISU went into the locker room with a 49-41 lead at the break.
ISU extended its lead to as many as 18 points before the Colonels started chipping away at the deficit, getting to within as few as four points before ISU iced the game with a Kinziger three-pointer and a 6-for-6 finish from the charity stripe in ISU's 11-point, 89-78 win.
KEY STATISTICS
- The Redbirds opened with the starting lineup of 3 Mason Klabo, 11 Johnny Kinziger, 14 Boden Skunberg, 22 Ty Pence, and 35 Chase Walker
- This is ISU's first game with this lineup, and the first collegiate start for Klabo
- The game was the first time in program history that ISU has had two starters from the state of North Dakota
- ISU wore its throwback white uniforms for the fourth time this season
- The Redbirds are 15-0 all-time when wearing this set of white throwback uniforms, and 4-0 in 2025-26
- Illinois State won the opening tip
- ISU's first points of the game came from Mason Klabo on a three-point jump shot with 19:32 on the first-half clock
- Illinois State's first subs were Brandon Lieb and Landon Moore with 16:11 to play in the first half
- Illinois State led 49-41 at halftime
- The Redbirds improved to 4-for-4 on challenges this season by going 2-for-2 on their challenges against EKU, the first with 16:24 remaining in the second half, and the second with 11:35 left in the second half
- ISU won its sixth consecutive game, its longest win streak since the 2016-17 season and tied for the third-longest since 2009-10
- Johnny Kinziger scored 21 points, a season-high, his eighth game this season in double-digit scoring, and the 50th of his college career
- The game was his 11th career 20+-point game
- He recorded season-highs in assists (5), steals (3), field goals (7), and three-point field goals (3)
- Mason Klabo's 17 points are a season- and career-high, and his first career game in double-digit scoring
- Ty Pence scored 17 points for his second consecutive double-digit scoring effort, his fourth this season and 16th of his Redbird career
- His five assists are a career-high
- Boden Skunberg scored 10 points, his third consecutive game with double-figure points, his fifth of the season, and 62nd of his collegiate career
- Landon Moore scored a season-high five points
NEXT UP
ISU remains at home for a Saturday, December 6 contest against the Chicago State Cougars inside CEFCU Arena with a 7 p.m. tip-off.
