McLean County Times

The Illinois State men's basketball team secured a 10-point victory over Ohio, the Mid-American Conference preseason favorite, with a final score of 85-75 at CEFCU Arena. Five players from the Redbirds scored in double digits, including Dalton Banks, who achieved a career-high of 23 points. The team demonstrated remarkable shooting accuracy, achieving 61.2% on field goals, 52.6% on three-pointers, and 93.8% from the free-throw line.

This game marked only the 29th instance since the 2001-02 NCAA season where a team has reached or surpassed these percentages in a single game. Banks successfully made eight out of fourteen attempts during the match and converted all six free throws.

Off the bench, Caden Boser contributed significantly with 16 points by making all six field goal attempts and four three-pointers. Chase Walker matched his career-high with 13 points while Johnny Kinziger and Ty Pence each added ten points to the team's tally. Banks and Jordan Davis led in rebounds with five each, while Kinziger set a new personal best with seven assists.

The Redbirds will next face Trinity Christian Trolls on November 17 as part of a doubleheader event.

In this encounter against Ohio, both teams initially exchanged baskets until ISU took control following consecutive scores after an early three-pointer by Ohio. By halftime, ISU held a narrow lead of 40-37 despite Ohio's efforts to close the gap.

Ohio managed an impressive start in the second half with an eleven-point run but was unable to maintain their lead as ISU responded with runs that eventually secured their win by expanding their advantage to sixteen points late in the game.

AJ Brown led Ohio's scoring efforts with twenty points while AJ Clayton and Elmore James each added twelve points alongside Aidan Hadaway's eleven.