McLean County Times

The Illinois State Redbirds men's basketball team finished their west coast road trip with a win, defeating Long Beach State 82-80 on Sunday at Walter Pyramid. This result evens the Redbirds' season record at 2-2.

Long Beach State started strong, making four of its first five shots and three out of four from long range. Despite this, Illinois State responded with a 9-0 run to take a six-point lead early in the first half. Long Beach answered back with a 7-0 run to briefly regain the lead, but ISU then went on a 17-7 run to close out the half ahead by nine points, leading 42-34.

In the second half, ISU extended its advantage to double digits after Johnny Kinziger converted a three-point play with just over 15 minutes left. The hosts narrowed the gap and eventually tied the score at 70. With the game tied at 72, Illinois State scored six consecutive points to build a lead they maintained until the end.

The Redbirds used a starting lineup of Ty'Reek Coleman, Johnny Kinziger, Boden Skunberg, Ty Pence, and Chase Walker—marking their second game with this combination. They wore gray uniforms for the first time this season and are now 5-2 all-time when wearing them.

Freshman Ty'Reek Coleman scored in double figures for his third straight game with 19 points and matched his career-high with two assists. Chase Walker also reached double figures for the second time this season with a season-high 19 points and made 13 of his 14 free throw attempts. According to NCAA statistics entering the game, those 13 free throws are tied for sixth-most in Division I so far this season.

Johnny Kinziger continued his scoring consistency by reaching double figures for the fourth consecutive game this year—his 47th such performance as a Redbird—with 15 points against Long Beach State.

Ty Pence set a personal best with four assists in the contest. As a team, Illinois State's total of 31 made free throws ties for the twenty-third most in program history and ranks sixteenth nationally so far this season.

Illinois State returns home after their two-game road swing and will host Rockford on Thursday, November 20 at CEFCU Arena at 7 p.m.