Late Redbird Push Unable to Overcome Strong Bruin Start

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Illinois State Redbirds closed the game on an 18-5 run; however, the hot shooting of the Belmont Bruins was too much to overcome in a 90-75 MVC loss on Saturday afternoon.

Darius Burford scored a team-high 15 points in the losing effort, while Malachi Poindexter and Jayden Johnson each scored 13 points, which is a new career-high for Johnson. Kendall Lewis pulled down a team-best five rebounds, while Burford's five assists tied for the game-high.

Belmont scored the first five points of the game and never trailed in the contest. Illinois State cut the deficit to just two points on three separate occasions; however, following a jumper from Seneca Knight that closed the…