2023-12-07 05:33:43
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12/9/2023 | 6 p.m.
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Dec. 09 (Sat) / 6 p.m.
Norfolk State
NORMAL, Ill. – With three players scoring 13 or more points, and four players with eight or more points, the Illinois State Redbirds were able to overcome a seven-point second-half deficit to out-pace the Northern Kentucky Norse by a 62-59 final score on Wednesday evening.
Illinois State (6-3) was led by Kendall Lewis who tied for a game-high with 15 points, while Dalton Banks scored 14 and Darius Burford 13. Myles Foster added eight points for the ‘Birds in the three-point win. Foster pulled down a game-high nine rebounds, while Banks and Lewis each grabbed six for an Illinois State squad that out-rebounded NKU by a 41-to-31 margin. Banks dished out four assists, as the Redbirds had 14 assists for the game.
The Redbirds return to action on Saturday, December 9, when the team hosts the Norfolk State Spartans in a 6 p.m. tip-off inside the historic Horton Field House.
After seeing the Norse score first in the game, the Redbirds ran off the next eight points and led 8-2 through the first three and a half minutes of the contest. NKU fought back and used an 8-0 lead of their own to re-take the lead. The first half saw four tie scores and 15 lead changes, the last of those lead changes coming via a first-half-ending 5-0 run on a Lewis three-point play and a Brandon Lieb lay-in that sent the Redbirds into the locker room with a 30-26 lead at the break.
The Redbirds extended their lead to six out of halftime on a Foster lay-in; however, over the next five minutes the Norse out-scored ISU 17-5 to take a six-point lead, as NKU extended its lead to as many as seven points with 11:29 to play in the game. With the margin remaining at seven with 10:43 to play, ISU’s defense tightened, and held the Norse scoreless for a five-minute stretch, out-scoring the visitors 12-0 during that span, and allowing NKU just nine points over the final 10:42 of the contest. Northern Kentucky fought back and tied the score at 55 and 57; however, each time the Redbirds’ Banks answered with a mid-paint jumper and deep three-pointer, before Burford’s lay-up with 58 seconds to play provided the final points of the game.
NKU was led by Marque Warrick, as he scored 15 points on 6-of-16 shooting from the field, while Cade Meyer scored 10 points. Sam Vinson, who came into the game averaging 15.9 points per game, was held to just five points while pulling down a team-best eight rebounds while giving out five assists.
TEAM NOTES
Illinois State used a starting lineup of 1 Malachi Poindexter, 3 Dalton Banks, 4 Myles Foster, 10 Darius Burford, 22 Kendall Lewis
This is the third consecutive game that this lineup has been used this season.
Illinois State won the opening tip
The first points of the game came from Dalton Banks on a three-pointer with 18:20 to play in the first half
The first subs for Illinois State were Brandon Lieb, Luke Kasubke, and Johnny Kinziger with 13:48 to play in the first half.
Illinois State led 36-26 at halftime
ISU’s win evened the all-time series with NKU at 1-1, as each team won on their home court.
Illinois State’s seven fouls committed tied a single-game school record for fewest fouls, tied with the team’s game against Green Bay on November 29, 1986, and just the 14th time the program has committed single-digit fouls in a game.
Illinois State’s 6-3 record is tied for the team’s best nine-game start since the 2009-10 squad went 7-2 over its first nine games of the season.
INDIVIDUAL NOTES
Dalton Banks
Reached double-figure scoring for the sixth time this season and 17th time in his career
Made a career-high four three-point baskets while tying a career-high with seven attempts
His six rebounds are a season-high, two off his career-best
Myles Foster
Pulled down a game-high nine rebounds, his fourth game with eight or more rebounds this season, and the fourth time he has led the team in rebounding.
Darius Burford
Scored in double-figures for the third straight game, fifth time this season, and 55th time in his career
Grabbed four offensive rebounds (came into the game with three on the season).
Kendall Lewis
Scored in double-figures for the second consecutive game and the 44th time in his career.
Led the team in scoring for the third time this season
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