NORMAL, Ill. – The Illinois State Redbirds opened the game by making their first five shots, jumping out to a 13-5 lead and the hosts never trailed as ISU secured the first season sweep over Drake since 2018-19 with an 86-76 MVC win on Friday evening.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Redbirds came out strong out of the gate, jumping out to an 8-2 lead as the Redbirds made their first five shots of the contest. Leading by five at 24-19 with 12:11 to play in the opening half, the Redbirds ran off 11 consecutive points to stretch to a 16-point, 35-19 advantage. The ISU advantage grew to as large as 17, and the Birds took a 15-point, 47-32 lead into the locker room at halftime.
The visiting Bulldogs got to within eight, five minutes into the second half; however, ISU answered with a 15-to-4 run, extending a 51-43 lead to 66-47. From there, Illinois State cruised, taking the second game of the season series 86-76.
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 first time with this starting lineup this season, and is the sixth different starting lineup combination of the season for the Birds
- ISU wore its throwback white uniform for the 11th time this season
- Illinois State won the opening tip
- ISU's first points of the game came from Landon on a lay-up with 19:41 on the first half clock
- This game was the first time this season he has scored ISU's first points
- The Redbirds had an 11-0 run in the first half, ISU's 11th "kill shot" of the season (run of 10-0 or better)
- Illinois State led 47-32 at halftime
- With 18 points, Chase Walker reached double-digit points for the 16th time this season, and 43rd of his career
- He has now eclipsed the 900-point plateau for his career, and he has 911 as a Redbird
- Ty'Reek Coleman had his 10th double-digit scoring game this season, scoring 19 points in the contest
- He set a career-high with eight rebounds, the third time this season that he has led the team in the category
- Boden Skunberg scored 13 points in the game
- The double-digit points are the 14th time this season he has scored 10+ in a game this season and 71st of his career
- His four assists are a season-high, and just the second time this season that he has led the Redbirds in assists
- For the second consecutive game, Landon Wolf reached double-figure scoring with 12 points, his fifth double-digit scoring game this season
- Brandon Lieb tied his career-high with three blocked shots
- The Redbirds out-rebounded Drake 40-to-38, the 18th time this season that ISU has out-rebounded its opponent
- ISU's 17 assists are the highest since the team gave out 17 assists in a lopsided home win over the Bradley Braves on January 17
NEXT UP
The Redbirds take to the road for a Monday evening battle with the Evansville Aces in the Ford Center in Evansville, Indiana.
