NORMAL, Ill. – Four players reached double-figures in the scoring column, including a career-high 18 from Nick Allen, 18 from Malik Messina-Moore, and 16 from Johnny Kinziger, as the Redbirds raced out to a big halftime lead before cruising to a 100-55 win over Central State.

HOW IT HAPPENED

The Redbirds never trailed, jumping out to a 16-2 lead through the first four-plus minutes of the game. The visiting Marauders kept the deficit between 10 and 18 points for the majority of the first half before Illinois State closed the period on a 14-0 run, taking a 56-29 lead into the locker room at halftime.

ISU opened the second half on a 20-5 run and cruised the rest of the way in the 45-point victory, as 12 of the 14 players that saw action in the game for ISU reached the scoring column.

KEY STATISTICS

• The Redbirds opened with the starting lineup: 0 Noah Cleveland, 3 Mason Klabo, 5 Demarion Burch, 9 Malik Messina-Moore, and 11 Johnny Kinziger
  • The starting jersey total of 28 is the fifth lowest by a Redbird starting lineup since at least 1975-76
  • This is the first time that this group has started together this season, and is the second different starting lineup used
• ISU wore its throwback white uniforms
• The game was the first inside CEFCU Arena with the Illinois Farm Bureau jersey patch
• Illinois State won the opening tip
• ISU's first points of the game came from a Johnny Kinziger three-point basket with 19:10 on the first half clock
• Illinois State led 56-29 at halftime
  • The 56 points at halftime are tied for the 20th-most point scored in the first half of a game in program history
  • The team scored 50 or more points in a half for the first time since ISU put up 52 points in the second half against Valparaiso on February 12, 2026
• ISU's 100 points are the first game of 100 or more points since the team scored 107 against Trinity Christian on November 17, 2024
• Three players: Jordan Williams, Leyton Wolf, and Matthew Szafoni each played in their first game as a Redbird, and each scored their first collegiate points in the contest
• Malik Messina-Moore scored 18 points for his second consecutive game scoring in double-figures
  • It was the 56th game in his career in which he scored in double-digits
• Johnny Kinziger scored 16 points in the game, his second consecutive double-digit scoring game to open the 2026-27 season
  • He made 5-of-6 from long range against the Marauders, and is 11-of-16 from long range through two games
  • The double-figure scoring game was his 71st of his collegiate career
• Nick Allen scored a career-high 18 points, making all seven of his field goal tries
  • It was the first double-digit scoring game of the season for the redshirt freshman
• Zaxton King scored his first points in a Redbird uniform, as he had a three-pointer along with two assists and a steal
• Louie Semona was one of two Redbirds to not score; however, he dished out four assists, one away from his career-high
• Chase Walker scored 11 points, his first game in double-figures in the scoring column, and the 53rd double-figure scoring game of his career

NEXT UP

ISU travels to West Lafayette, Indiana, on Monday, November 9, as the Redbirds will face off against the Purdue Boilermakers in a 7:30 p.m. (CT) tip-off inside Mackey Arena.