McLean County Times

 Illinois State out-scored the UIC Flames by 12 in the second half, but a 16-point halftime deficit proved too much to overcome in a 55-51 UIC win on Wednesday evening.

Darius Burford scored a team-high 10 points, while Malachi Poindexter scored nine, Seneca Knight 8, and Harouna Sissoko a season-high seven points. Sissoko pulled down a season- and game-high eight rebounds, as the Redbirds out-rebounded UIC 41-to-31, the sixth consecutive game that ISU has out-rebounded its opponents, tied for the fifth-longest such rebounding streak since 2000-01. Burford dished out a team-best three assists, while Luke Kasubke picked up a game-high three steals.

The Redbirds return to action on Saturday, December 31 when the team plays host to the UNI Panthers in a 2 p.m. tip-off at CEFCU Arena.

Illinois State led early at 6-4, before the Flames ran off five consecutive points to take a lead they would not give up for the remainder of the game. UIC kept extending its lead to as many as 16 heading into the locker room at halftime at 33-17.

The Flames stretched their advantage to as many as 18 in the second half at 41-23; however, the 'Birds started its comeback with a 24-8 run which saw the lead trimmed to as few as two at 49-47 after a Knight free throw with 3:22 to play in the contest. A UIC 5-0 run pushed the margin back to seven points, as the final margin settled at four after Poindexter connected on two baskets in the last 30 seconds of the game.

UIC was led by Tony Okani who scored a game-high 18 points with seven rebounds and a season-high seven blocked shots.

TEAM NOTES

• Illinois State is now 6-8 (1-2 MVC) on the season while UIC is 9-5 (1-2 MVC).
• Illinois State used a starting lineup of 1 Malachi Poindexter, 3 Seneca Knight, 10 Darius Burford, 22 Kendall Lewis, and 23 Harouna Sissoko
  • This is the first time that this lineup has been used this season, and the sixth different starting lineup for the squad this year.
• Today's game is the 26th time these two teams have met on the basketball court, and the first as members of the MVC.
  • Illinois State leads the all-time series 18-8
• Illinois State is wearing its red uniforms for the first time this season
• Illinois State won the opening tip.
• The first Illinois State points of the game came with 19:42 to play in the first half on a mid-range rebound basket.
• Illinois State's first subs were Jayden Johnson, Luke Kasubke, and Alex Kotov with 15:15 to play in the first half.
• Illinois State trailed 33-17 at halftime
• The Redbirds out-rebounded UIC 41-to-31, the sixth consecutive game that ISU has out-rebounded its opponent, tied for the fifth-longest streak of not being out-rebounded since the 2000-01 season.

INDIVIDUAL NOTES

• Luke Kasubke
  • Set a career-high with six rebounds
• Darius Burford
  • Reached double-figure scoring for the eighth time this season and 35th time in his career.
• Nik Stadelman
  • Made his first appearance of the season.
• Harouna Sissoko
  • Pulled down a season-high eight rebounds
  • Scored a season-high seven points

GoRedbirds.com and the Illinois State Redbirds App:  Your sources for Illinois State tickets, Weisbecker Athletic Fund gifts, multimedia, Redbird merchandise, photos and more.

Original source can be found here