McLean County Times

The Illinois State Redbirds men's basketball team opened their 2025-26 season with a 72-68 loss to the Ohio Bobcats in Athens, Ohio. Despite three Redbird players scoring in double figures, the team was unable to overcome Ohio's strong shooting performance.

Ohio took an early lead by scoring the first six points of the game and maintained their advantage throughout most of the contest. The Bobcats' largest lead in the first half was 11 points. Illinois State responded with two significant runs and managed to tie the game at 29 before both teams entered halftime tied at 31.

Boden Skunberg hit a three-pointer early in the second half to give Illinois State its first lead of the night. The Redbirds then went on a 10-2 run, building an eight-point advantage. However, Ohio answered with a 13-0 run midway through the second half, regaining control and extending their lead to as many as six points. Although Illinois State narrowed the gap to three late in the game, they were unable to reclaim their earlier lead.

Illinois State started Jack Daugherty, Johnny Kinziger, Boden Skunberg, Ty Pence, and Chase Walker. The team debuted red throwback uniforms for this matchup and won the opening tip-off. Chase Walker scored ISU’s first point of the season from a free throw while Johnny Kinziger added their first field goal off an assist from Walker.

Four players—Skunberg, Landon Moore, Ty'Reek Coleman, and Mason Klabo—made their Redbird debuts during this game. Head coach Ryan Pedon's squad was tied at halftime for only the fifth time during his tenure.

Skunberg finished his debut with 15 points and seven rebounds. Kinziger also tallied 15 points—the 43rd double-digit scoring game of his career—and shared team-high honors with three assists alongside Walker. Ty Pence contributed 14 points for his fourth consecutive double-digit scoring effort dating back to last season and matched Skunberg’s seven rebounds.

Brandon Lieb recorded six points, five rebounds, and led all players with two blocked shots. Both Klabo and Coleman scored their first collegiate points during this contest.

As a team, Illinois State shot 43.5 percent from the field (27-of-62) and made eight out of twenty-six attempts from beyond the arc (30.8 percent).

Illinois State will return home for its next game against Cornell Big Red on Sunday, November 9 at CEFCU Arena.