EVANSVILLE, Ind. – Despite a furious late-game comeback that saw Illinois State score 13 consecutive points to close a 19-point Evansville deficit to just six, the Redbirds could get no closer, falling 88-80 on Monday evening inside the Ford Center.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Each teams' offenses came out firing on all cylinders to start the game, with the Redbirds using strong shooting from long range to jump out to a nine-point, 15-6 lead. The Redbird offense went cold for the next eight minutes, as the Aces continued their strong shooting – making eight of their 10 first-half long-range shots – stretching their lead to as many as 16, before the Birds closed the gap to 13 points at 45-32 at halftime.
The Aces led by as many as 19 points, as late as with 3:15 to play in the game; however, the Redbirds scored 13 consecutive points to close the gap to six with 52 seconds remaining; however, they could not come any closer in an 88-80 loss.
KEY STATISTICS / NOTES
- The Redbirds opened with the starting lineup of 3 Mason Klabo, 4 Landon Wolf, 11 Johnny Kinziger, 14 Boden Skunberg, and 35 Chase Walker
- This is ISU's second game with this starting lineup this season
- ISU wore its throwback red uniform for the 10th time this season
- Illinois State won the opening tip
- ISU's first points of the game came from Johnny Kinziger on a three-pointer with 19:42 on the first half clock
- This game was the first time this season he has scored ISU's first points
- Evansville led 45-32 at halftime
- Landon Wolf scored in double-figures for the third consecutive game, as he tallied 11 points to go with a team-high nine rebounds
- For the 15th time this season Boden Skunberg reached double-figures in the scoring column with 11 points
- Johnny Kinziger dished out a career-high eight assists while scoring eight points
- Landon Moore set a season-high with 16 points, his third time this season scoring in double-digits
- He also set a season-high with three three-point field goals on just four attempts
- Ty'Reek Coleman has scored in double-digits for the 11th time this season, as she scored 14 points in the contest
- Evansville made 14-of-21 three-point field goals, tied for the ninth-best single-game three-point percentage in the NCAA this season (minimum of 10 makes)
- Illinois State had a 21-to-7 assist-to-turnover ratio in the game
NEXT UP
ISU hosts the Valparaiso Beacons on Thursday, February 12, for a 6 p.m. tip-off inside CEFCU Arena.
