McLean County Times

The Illinois State men's basketball team is preparing for a match against the Ohio Bobcats from the Mid-American Conference. This game follows a recent nine-point victory over North Dakota State Bison. The matchup is scheduled for Tuesday, November 12, with a tip-off at 7 PM at CEFCU Arena in Normal, Illinois. The game will be broadcast on ESPN+ and covered by the Illinois State Radio Network.

Illinois State forward Chase Walker and Ohio forward Vic Searls share a history as former teammates at St. Charles. In their last game, Illinois State minimized turnovers to just five, tying for the fifth-fewest in program history. Walker ranks 11th nationally with an average of 5.0 offensive rebounds per game early in the season.

Jack Daugherty, an Illinois State freshman, made an impressive debut with five three-pointers, marking one of the top performances by a freshman in school history. Doug Collins, a Redbird basketball legend and Hall of Famer since October 13, has been recognized for his extensive contributions to basketball.

Johnny Kinziger has been included in the Bracketeer.org All-America Watch List and was also named to the First Team in the preseason poll where Illinois State was predicted to finish fourth.

Ohio comes into this contest with a 1-1 record after defeating UNC Asheville but losing to James Madison earlier this season. Key players like AJ Clayton and Shereef Mitchell are leading Ohio's offense with double-digit scoring averages.

This season's roster features notable players such as Brandon Lieb who became the tallest player in program history standing at seven feet tall without shoes. Additionally, Illinois State boasts six fifth-year players due to eligibility extensions from previous seasons.

The Redbirds have historically performed well against teams from the Mid-American Conference holding a 150-104 record overall including future opponent Northern Illinois.

The team's upcoming schedule includes diverse opponents featuring mascots ranging from animals like Skyhawks and Bobcats to unique ones like Billikins and Sycamores.