VALPARAISO, Ind. – A late Redbird push trimmed a nine-point Valparaiso lead to just three; however, Illinois State could not overcome the full amount, falling 81-76 on Saturday evening to the Beacons.
Seneca Knight scored 20 points to lead four double-digit scorers for ISU, as Darius Burford scored 17, Malachi Poindexter 16, and Kendall Lewis 10 in the five-point loss. Lewis pulled down a team-leading six rebounds, while Burford gave out five assists with a team-high four steals.
ISU struck first in the game with a three-pointer by Knight, before the host Beacons ran off eight straight points to lead 8-3.