TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – Chase Walker and Johnny Kinziger scored 22 and 21 points, respectively; however, the Redbirds fell short against the Indiana State Sycamores by an 85-76 final score on Saturday afternoon.
Walker had his second double-double of the year by scoring 22 points with 11 rebounds, while also leading the team with four assists, the first time this season that a single player has led the team in those three categories. Kinziger made 4-of-9 from long range and finished 7-of-15 overall while pulling down four rebounds with six assists.
Landon Wolf scored 12 points, making 5-of-6 shots from the field and 2-of-3 from long range, while also pulling down two rebounds with an assist and a steal. Ty Pence scored six points with four rebounds and a game-high-tying two steals.
The Redbirds host I-74 rival Bradley on Wednesday, February 19, with a 7 p.m. tip-off at CEFCU Arena.
The first half saw eight tie scores and seven lead changes, and the half was a series of runs, as the Redbirds had a pair of 6-0 runs in the opening half, while Indiana State had runs of 7-0 and 8-0, and the hosts took a 40-33 lead into the locker room at halftime.
In the second half the Redbirds opened strong, using a 24-10 run to push back to a seven-point, 57-50 lead following the second of two Pence three-point plays. The lead reached as large as eight with 10:00 to play in the game; however, the Sycamores clawed back, and after a 10-0 Indiana State run the Trees turned a three-point deficit into a seven point advantage, and the hosts held on for the nine-point win.
The Redbirds made 27-of-55 shots from the field, 49.1%, while making 8-of-24 (33.3%) from long range and 14-of-16 (87.5%) from the charity stripe. Indiana State made 50.9 percent (28-of-55) of its shots from the field, 11-of-24 (45.8%) from long range and was 18-of-21 (85.7%) from the free throw line.
Indiana State was led by Samage Teel, who scored 36 points, while Jaden Daughtry scored 14 points, Camp Wagner and Derek Vorst 11 points, and Bruno Alocen added 10.
TEAM NOTES
- Illinois State used a starting lineup of 3 Dalton Banks, 5 Jordan Davis, 11 Johnny Kinziger, 22 Ty Pence, and 33 Caden Boser
- It was the first time this season ISU has used this starting lineup
- The Sycamores won the opening tip
- The first points of the game came from Johnny Kinziger on a three-pointer with 19:21 to play in the first half
- It was the eighth time this season scored ISU's first points of the game
- The first subs for Illinois State were Chase Walker and Jack Daugherty with 15:55 to play in the first half
- Indiana State led 40-33 at halftime
- For the second consecutive game, the Redbirds had two players score 20+ points in a game as Chase Walker scored 22 and Johnny Kinziger 21
INDIVIDUAL NOTES
- Landon Wolf
- Reached double-figure scoring for the ninth time this season, and 23rd time in his career
- His five made field goals are tied for his season-high
- Johnny Kinziger
- Scored 21 points, his 22nd game in double-digits and his seventh with 20+ points
- He has scored 20+ points in each of his three career games against the Sycamores
- Has three 20+ scoring games over his last six contests
- Chase Walker
- Led the Redbirds in points (22), rebounds (11) and assists (4), the first time this season a player has led the team in all three.
- Has scored in double-figures 20 times this season, while scoring 20+ points nine times
- Has reached 20+ points scoring in five of his last six games
- Recorded his second career double-double with 22 points and 11 rebounds
- His four assists are tied for the second-highest of his career
- Had his third double-digit rebounding game during the year
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