McLean County Times

The Illinois State men's basketball team is set to conclude a three-game homestand with a match against the Northern Illinois Huskies on Wednesday evening. The game will take place at CEFCU Arena in Normal, Illinois, with a tip-off scheduled for 7 PM. Fans can catch the action on ESPN+ or tune into the Illinois State Radio Network on WJBC 93.7 FM and 1230 AM.

Wednesday also marks Malachi Poindexter's birthday. Notably, Illinois State guard Johnny Kinziger has recorded four blocked shots this season, ranking fifth in the nation among players under six feet tall. The Redbirds have shown significant improvement in their three-point shooting accuracy this season, currently ranked 10th nationally with a .406 percentage.

Illinois State has had a successful run against preseason conference favorites, securing wins over Ohio and UAB during their recent games. The team boasts six different leading scorers across ten games and ranks highly in NCAA statistics for three-point field goals per game and free throw percentage.

Dalton Banks made headlines by becoming the first college player since the 2022-23 season to achieve perfect shooting from both field goals and free throws while standing 6-2 or shorter. Ty Pence is among five players nationwide who have logged at least 250 minutes with impressive shooting percentages.

The Redbirds have achieved notable milestones this season, including tying school records for three-point baskets made in a single game by freshman Jack Daugherty. Their performance against Ohio marked only the second time this year that any team reached certain shooting benchmarks.

On the opposing side, Northern Illinois enters the game following an uneven performance, having recently defeated Benedictine but suffered a heavy loss to Northern Iowa. Quentin Jones leads NIU in scoring and blocks while James Dent Jr. contributes significantly in rebounds and assists.

The Redbirds' strong showing this season is reflected not only in individual performances but also through historical achievements such as high-scoring games and low turnover rates.

Recently inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame was former Redbird Doug Collins, recognizing his extensive contributions to basketball at various levels throughout his career.

Illinois State's recruitment efforts continue to strengthen their roster with promising new signees anticipated for future seasons as they aim to maintain their competitive edge within collegiate basketball circles.