In a stunning upset, the Illinois State men's basketball team handed No. 23 Indiana State their first loss in nine games with a final score of 80-67 on Tuesday night. This defeat marks a significant blow to the Sycamores, who had recently entered the AP Top 25 rankings for the first time in 45 years.
Johnny Kinziger, a standout player for Illinois State, had a career game, scoring a remarkable 31 points. Kinziger's performance was exceptional, as he made 10 of his 12 field goal attempts. This impressive showing more than doubled his previous career-high of 14 points. Myles Foster also made significant contributions to the Redbirds' victory, tallying 19 points and 12 rebounds.
Illinois State, which had been struggling with a three-game losing streak, managed to halt their slide and secure a much-needed win. The team had only been victorious four times since December 21. This victory will undoubtedly boost their morale and provide a positive momentum for the remainder of the season.
Indiana State had been on a remarkable run, winning nine consecutive games prior to their encounter with Illinois State. Part of their success came from their potent offense, ranking fifth nationally with an average of 85.6 points per game. However, the Sycamores' shooting was abysmal against the Redbirds, especially from beyond the arc. They missed their first 16 three-point attempts and finished the game shooting a disappointing 8 of 38 from deep.
Despite losing their leading rebounder, Jayson Kent, to an injury early in the second half, Indiana State briefly seized their first lead of the game with 9:33 remaining. However, Illinois State quickly responded with a 17-8 run, establishing a comfortable 65-55 lead with just under four minutes left on the clock. From that point on, the Sycamores struggled to mount a comeback and never posed a significant threat to the Redbirds.
This loss will likely have a significant impact on Indiana State's ranking in the polls. While their entry into the AP Top 25 brought back memories of their magical run in the 1979 national title game with Larry Bird, this defeat will undoubtedly drop them from the rankings. The Sycamores simply couldn't afford a loss of this magnitude at this crucial stage of the season.
Looking ahead, Illinois State will aim to capitalize on their victory as they host Evansville on Sunday. This win should also help improve their NET ranking, which serves as the tiebreaker for conference tournament seeding.
For Indiana State, the loss reopens the race at the top of the Missouri Valley Conference standings. With Drake chasing closely behind, the Sycamores will need to regroup and refocus as they face Southern Illinois in their next conference matchup on Saturday, which looks to be their toughest remaining game in the MVC schedule.
The college basketball world witnessed a captivating game that reminds us of the unpredictability and excitement of the sport. As the season progresses, fans can continue to expect more thrilling matchups and surprising results that will keep them on the edge of their seats.
