WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – The Illinois State Redbirds trailed by just two with 8:55 to play in the game; however, a late push by host Purdue put the game out of reach in a 76-to-56 Boilermaker victory.

HOW IT HAPPENED

The Redbird offense struggled out of the gate, as Purdue built a 7-0 lead through the first four minutes of the contest before ISU found the scoreboard on a Malik Messina-Moore jumper. The lead fluctuated between five and 11 points for the rest of the half, as the Boilermakers jumped ahead by 11 with 3:36 to play in the half. The Redbirds countered with a 7-2 run to close the gap to five before Purdue drained a three-pointer at the tail end of the first half to take an eight-point, 36-28 lead into the locker room at halftime.

The Redbirds and Boilermakers battled back-and-forth at the beginning of the second half, with ISU climbing back, chipping away at the deficit throughout the first eight minutes of the second period. The Birds got to within two following a pair of Noah Cleveland free throws. The hosts countered back with a 15-0 run, putting Purdue ahead by 17 as the hosts held out for the non-conference win.

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
  • This is the second time that this group has started together this season
• ISU wore its throwback red uniforms
  • It is the first time this season that ISU has worn these uniforms
• Purdue won the opening tip
• ISU's first points of the game came from Malik Messina-Moore on a jump shot with 15:40 to play in the first half
• Purdue led at halftime by a 36-28 score
  • The game is the first this season where ISU did not hold a lead heading into the locker room at halftime
• The Redbirds had a 14-to-9 assist-to-turnover ratio, and the team has had a positive ratio in all three games this season
• Johnny Kinziger was the first Redbird to reach double-figures in the scoring column, as he scored 12 for the Redbirds
  • It was his third double-digit scoring game of the season, and the 72nd of his career
  • He has led or co-led ISU in scoring twice this season, and 23times over his Redbird career
• Malik Messina-Moore scored 11 points for the Redbirds, his third consecutive game reaching double-digits to open his ISU career, and his 57th of his college career
• Noah Cleveland scored 12 points, his first official game in double-figures as a Redbird, and 24th as a collegian
• Demarion Burch scored 10 points for his first double-digit scoring game as a Redbird
• Mason Klabo led the Redbirds with four assists, the fourth time in his career that he was the team's assist leader

NEXT UP

The Redbirds go back on the road on Friday, November 13 when the squad travels to Fargo, North Dakota, to face the North Dakota State Bison at a 7 p.m. tip-off.